Greek far-right figure Ilias Kasidiaris released from prison, signals political return

Athens, Greece. Greek far-right politician Ilias Kasidiaris was released from prison on Tuesday after serving about six years of a sentence for co-leading Golden Dawn and said he planned to return to politics ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections.

Golden Dawn conviction

Kasidiaris, 46, was a spokesperson and lawmaker for Golden Dawn, which became Greece’s third-largest political force during the 2009-2018 debt crisis on an anti-austerity and anti-migration agenda.

In 2020, the far-right, neo-Nazi party was declared a criminal organisation linked to hate crimes, including the killing of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas. Kasidiaris was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison as one of its leaders.

Release and political plans

Dressed casually, Kasidiaris left a prison in central Greece to cheers from supporters waving Greek flags. He was released after serving about six years of his sentence, including credits for prison labour and time spent in custody.

Greek law bars parties led by convicted felons from running in elections. Kasidiaris nevertheless said he planned to launch a party to challenge what he described as a corrupt establishment.

“I’m returning today, and from what I see I’m not alone; with me is a new, strong national party, like those that dominate throughout Europe,” he told reporters after his release.

Previous political activity

Kasidiaris attacked two female politicians during a live television programme in 2012. He later founded the ultra-nationalist Hellenes party, which was barred from the 2023 national elections.

He subsequently publicly endorsed the nationalist Spartans party, which was also barred from the European election ballot. Its three lawmakers later lost their parliamentary seats after evidence showed that Kasidiaris had guided the party from prison.

Hard-right parties have been gaining ground across Europe. In Germany, thousands of demonstrators rallied in Berlin last week against the rise of the far-right after Alternative for Germany, which leads national surveys, came first in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.