Golden Dawn allowed to stand in Greek EU elections - Polidicks

[img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73112000/jpg/_73112142_020873284-1.jpg[/img] [url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27371457[/url] [quote]The Greek Supreme Court has given the go-ahead for the ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn party to run in elections to the European Parliament this month. Golden Dawn is currently under criminal investigation. Six of its MPs, including its leader, are in prison awaiting trial on charges involving murder, arson and extortion. The party entered parliament for the first time in 2012, amid public alarm over immigration and the jobs crisis. Many describe the party as "neo-Nazi". The party insists that it does not embrace Nazi ideology. The Greek government has resisted calls to ban Golden Dawn, arguing the case for democracy in a country previously plagued by authoritarian rulers, including a seven-year military dictatorship.[/quote]

It's understandable that the Greeks are afraid of outright banning political parties, considering their history. Best case scenario is that the Golden Dawn gets a small percentage of votes and eventually dies a slow, unremarkable death over the coming years.

As much as I hate Neo-Nazis setting a precedent of banning political parties is a bad idea.

[QUOTE=deltasquid;44788058]It's understandable that the Greeks are afraid of outright banning political parties, considering their history. Best case scenario is that the Golden Dawn gets a small percentage of votes and eventually dies a slow, unremarkable death over the coming years.[/QUOTE] Might be possible with Greece's financial situation improving but there is still a lot of resentment among the people and extremist parties feed on resentment.

[QUOTE=mdeceiver79;44788118]Might be possible with Greece's financial situation improving but there is still a lot of resentment among the people and extremist parties feed on resentment.[/QUOTE] I doubt enough people will vote on them based on resentment alone to make them an actual player in politics.

[QUOTE=deltasquid;44788162]I doubt enough people will vote on them based on resentment alone to make them an actual player in politics.[/QUOTE] Its working in UK. UKIP is popular right now, despite it having stupid rhetoric backed up with misused statistics and xenophobia. BNP has been around for years, though its losing ground to UKIP currently. Golden Dawn is more extreme but the situation is more extreme also. I'm not saying UKIP and Golden Dawn are similar but I am saying they fit a niche and can exploit the the public's dissatisfaction with the current regime.

Democracy, as it should be. Uncensored and unfiltered. Cant say I am really happy about it and i think they are pretty abhorrent, but if that is what the people of greece wants then that is what the people will get.

[QUOTE=download;44788096]As much as I hate Neo-Nazis setting a precedent of banning political parties is a bad idea.[/QUOTE] nazism is by definition, against democracy, banning them wouldn't be as bad some think it would.

[QUOTE=download;44788096]As much as I hate Neo-Nazis setting a precedent of banning political parties is a bad idea.[/QUOTE] Germany does it. They do not ban political parties [I]per se,[/I] but rather parties which express Anti-Democratic ideals. It's like the distinction between Terrorist cell and legitimate political party.

They did the right thing. Just hope shit in Greece doesn't get so bad that these guys will get any significant votes.