Parties condemn fatal Amfiali attack, slam Golden Dawn
Greek political parties on Wednesday condemned the fatal stabbing of 34-year-old hip hop artist Pavlos Fyssas by a 45-year-old suspect who has allegedly admitted to being a supporter of Golden Dawn.
Conservative New Democracy noted that the murder was “the result of the Nazi belief of hatred nurtured and promoted by Golden Dawn” and called upon authorities to show utmost strictness.
Speaking at a rally organized as part of a two-day strike protesting the government’s mobility scheme for civil servants by umbrella public sector union ADEDY on Wednesday, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said that the incident, which took place in the southern Athens suburb of Amfiali, was part of a “destabilization and desorientation plan orchestrated by extreme right centers and the neo-nazi gang Golden Dawn.” Meanwhile, SYRIZA’s political council was expected to convene in an emergency meeting later in the day.
Socialist PASOK called Golden Dawn a “criminal organization” targeting Greeks and immigrants, while Democratic Left called for the “institutional asphyxiation” of the extreme right-wing party.
The Greek Communist Party, KKE, called on Greeks to condemn the attack en masse and said Golden Dawn aimed at terrorizing workers and the country’s youth.
A spokesman for Independent Greeks also condemned the attack, while Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) noted that Golden Dawn’s leader, Nikos Michaloliakos, had no longer control over the army he had created.
On Wednesday Public Order Minister Nikos Dendias proposed a public dialogue regarding legislation on what constitutes an “armed gang.”
Meanwhile, media reports suggested that tensions had risen outside Golden Dawn’s offices in Hania, Crete, when protesters taking part in a rally on Wednesday clashed with riot police officers.
