NEWS

Thessaloniki mayor Boutaris sworn in wearing yellow star amid Golden Dawn protests

Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris wore a yellow Star of David badge, like the ones worn by Jews rounded up in the northern city during the Second World War, on Thursday for his swearing-in ceremony.

Boutaris pinned the badge to his jacket amid protest by leftists against the presence of Golden Dawn MP Artemis Matthaiopoulos on the municipal council. Mathaiopoulos gained 7.7 percent of the vote when he stood for Thessaloniki mayor in May’s local elections, helping Golden Dawn elect two councillors.

Protesters exchanged chants and insults with Golden Dawn supporters who sat in the opposite public gallery at the municipal council. Boutaris pleaded with both sides to calm down.

“The municipal council is not a coffee house or a soccer stadium,” said Boutaris, who prevailed comfortably in May’s elections, winning 58.1 percent of the vote in the second round to secure a second term.

His decision to wear the yellow badge carries significant symbolism as almost 90 percent of Thessaloniki’s Jews were killed during the Second World War after being transported to Nazi German concentration camps, leaving only some 10,000 survivors.

Subscribe to our Newsletters

Enter your information below to receive our weekly newsletters with the latest insights, opinion pieces and current events straight to your inbox.

By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.