Greece’s only Nationalist Party Banned from Elections

According to the AP, the Nationalist Party of Greece is prohibited from running in this year’s elections, which are scheduled to take place in April.

The anti-immigration party is getting close to the three percent barrier needed to secure representation in parliament, according to recent surveys.

The reason for the prohibition is because the party’s founder, Ilias Kasidiaris, is now serving a 13-year jail term for his involvement in the Golden Dawn party, which Greek authorities had previously designated as a criminal organization. Kasidiaris created the party two years ago.

The contending parties in Greece’s parliament decided to forbid the Nationalist Party from running in the election.

On Thursday, state television broadcast Takis Theodorikakos, the minister of public affairs, defending the choice:

The decision by the government to reject a party led by a convicted member of a criminal organization in response to a demand made by a sizable majority of Greek citizens was the right one.

April is anticipated to be the month of elections in Greece. The present Liberal government coalition is ahead in the polls, but it appears that a majority will be challenging to get.