Thessaloniki’s municipal administration has denied Golden Dawn a public space to campaign ahead of the national elections on 7 July.
There are currently 140 locations around the city where electoral gazebos can be set up. It was decided that 70 per cent of these would go to parties that entered parliament in 2015, except Golden Dawn, the Independent Greeks and Potami which are not running in the upcoming elections. The remainder 30 per cent of spaces are to go to groups that are currently not in Parliament as well as to other organisations.
The Golden Dawn party, inspired by Nazi organisations in its symbolism and set-up, halved its support from 9.4 to 4.88 per cent in the European elections. The party has had numerous allegations of violence and internal strife, including arrests. Party members are currently on trial for the 2013 murder of left-wing rapper Pavlos Fyssas.
The current left-wing SYRIZA government has cracked down on extremism.
A number of Golden Dawn’s supporters have moved to ultra-nationalist/pro-Russian Elliniki Lysi (Greek solution) that garnered 4.18 per cent of support and sent an MEP to European Parliament.