The Greek Parliament has voted by a significant majority to strip the immunity of the last four Golden Dawn legislators to have preserved it. There are a total of 17 legislators for the neo-Nazi party in the legislature.
The party, some of whose MPs have been charged with membership in a criminal organization in recent months, has found itself under continually increasing pressure. The Golden Dawn members lost their immunity so they could be charged.
Golden Dawn is considered a neo-Nazi, racist, xenophobic party. Six of its MPs have already been remanded into custody.
The first impulse to criminally prosecute the MPs was a September 2013 incident in which a Golden Dawn member stabbed a left-wing musician to death. The perpetrator confessed to committing the crime.
House searches and investigations into the leading functionaries and representatives of the party followed. Among those arrested was party boss Nikolaos Michaloliakos.
The Greek Parliament has also stopped Golden Dawn’s financial contributions from the state. The party received almost 7 % of the vote in the 2012 elections and, according to polls, enjoys roughly the same level of support among voters today.
Romea.cz