EGAM satisfied by Greece’s decision to exclude the Golden Dawn from the Council of Europe delegation
Following yesterday’s meeting between Benjamin Abtan, the President of the European Grassroots Antiracist Movement (EGAM) and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Athens, EGAM expressed its satisfaction over New Democracy’s decision to form a new composition of the Greek parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe without the neo-Nazis of Golden Dawn.
This position is the same as the one previously announced by the parties Pasok, Democratic Left and Syriza, and it means the exclusion of the neo-Nazis from the Council of Europe.
As EGAM announced in a statement: “Greece is now offering an example to the whole Europe of a country faced with the most violent social situation but whose leaders have decided to put the defense of democracy as a top priority.”
In addition, according to the statement this decision allows to break the dynamic of the neo-Nazi party “Golden Dawn” in Greece and at the European level, and it reinforces the European antiracist movement.
On Saturday 15 December, EGAM organized a great antiracist march against neo-Nazism in Athens, Greece gathering more than 10,000 people in order to give a clear message against racism in the entire Europe.
The rise of the Golden Dawn party during Greece’s last elections has caused great concern in the EU. Recent polls showed that the party would come third if the election were held now. Europe worries that Golden Dawn’s growing popularity poses a serious threat to democracy since its members often resort to violence and carry out hate crimes against immigrants in Greece.
On 10 December, the Council of Europe has also expressed its concern regarding Golden Dawn’s activities.
