NEWS

ND, SYRIZA clash over teen murder anniversary

An ugly row broke out on Wednesday night between New Democracy and SYRIZA following a statement issued by the leftist party’s youth wing, which suggested that protests planned for Thursday marking the anniversary of the 2008 murder of 15-year-old Alexis Grigoropoulos by a policeman was an opportunity to overthrow the government.

The release of the statement prompted a blunt response from the conservatives, who accused SYRIZA of acting as “fifth columnists.” “They are bringing out the hoods and arming themselves with Molotov cocktails with the aim of burning Athens and pillaging private property again,” said New Democracy.

The conservative party, which is the biggest in the tripartite coalition, accused leftist MPs of acting like “hooded Second World War traitors” by turning people against “policemen and their families.” ND added that they would not allow “another Marfin” in reference to the bank that was firebombed in May 2010, leading to three employees being killed.

SYRIZA responded by labeling the conservatives’ statement “civil war-like, prejudiced and terrorizing.” Leftist MP Nikos Voutsis demanded that ND retract its comments, calling them “shameful.” ND’s Athanasios Davlouros accused SYRIZA of “walking the same path as Golden Dawn.”

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