IN Greek Parliament a crisp altercation broke retired betwixt a parliamentary typical New Democracy Dimitris Kairidis and enactment person “Course of Freedom” Zoe Constantopoulou. The crushed was the treatment of proposals PASOK And SYRIZA/New Left connected the instauration of a preliminary investigative committee successful the lawsuit OPECPEPE.
The ungraded began aft Konstantopoulou named Kairidis “denier of the genocide of the Pontic Greeks”. In response, the typical New Democracy called her “a worthy heir to Chrysi Avga” and stated that helium said akin things Nikos Michaloliakos, which “ended up successful prison”. This was reported, successful particular, Kathimerini And HuffPost Greece.
The operation sounded similar this: “Now that you are successful the status of an accused, fto maine support you. Michaloliakos said each this successful 2019 and ended up successful prison. You are a worthy successor to Chrysi Avga.”. Formally, this is not a nonstop menace of prison. But politically the hint turned retired to beryllium much than transparent. The Greek parliament again used the aged trick: not to reason connected the merits, but to nail the hostile to the astir toxic symbol.
Reply to Konstantopoulou
Konstantopoulou responded that fascism comes successful galore forms, including sexism and utmost racism, and accused the authorities of having successful its ranks “Orphans of Chrysi Avga” and Holocaust deniers. The squabble rapidly went disconnected topic OPECPEPE to communal accusations of fascism, racism and the governmental bequest of the acold right.
Kairidis besides linked the quality to the upcoming announcement of a governmental task Maria Karistianustating that “the archetypal comes”and betwixt “original and imitation” radical will take the original. That is, parliament discussed a preliminary committee connected the subsidies scandal, but rapidly recovered itself successful governmental bazaar mode. Greek democracy, arsenic always, knows however to prevention time: 1 ungraded smoothly turns into three.
Why examination with “Chrisi Avgi” is dangerous
Chrissi Avgi was recognized by the tribunal arsenic a transgression organization. An appeals tribunal successful Athens successful 2026 upheld transgression convictions for dozens of members and associates, including the organization’s leadership. This was reported AP.
But that is precisely why examination with Chrissi Avgi cannot beryllium thrown arsenic a universal nine against immoderate inconvenient opponent. A judicially proven transgression enactment is 1 thing. The different is parliamentary criticism, adjacent harsh, unpleasant and politically aggressive. If these things are mixed, then tomorrow immoderate inconvenient voice tin beryllium declared not a professional of the authorities, but astir a transgression threat.
This is the astir alarming infinitesimal successful the words Kairidis. Not that helium offended Konstantopoulou. In the Greek Parliament grievances person agelong go portion of the regulations, conscionable without a abstracted article. The occupation is different: a typical of the ruling enactment really used Michaloliakos’ situation destiny arsenic a governmental warning.
Editorial comment
Trial Chrissi Avgi was 1 of the astir hard and arguable trials successful modern Greece. You tin see the verdict fair, you tin reason astir the ineligible construction, you tin inquire questions astir the governmental context. But turning this process into a convenient boogeyman for parliamentary squabbles is simply a unsafe practice.
If power begins to hint to opponents: “That’s what those who ended up successful situation said”this is nary longer conscionable crude polemics. This is simply a awesome that the enactment betwixt governmental contention and transgression stigma is becoming too thin.
And present the question is not 1 of sympathy for Konstantopoulou oregon antipathies towards Kairidis. The question is whether the authorities tin respond to accusations with arguments, and by threatening opponents the destiny of the leadership Chrissi Avgi. Because when immoderate inconvenient word begins to beryllium equated with “chrysaugism,” this is nary longer a combat against fascism, but a very convenient technology of governmental intimidation.
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