After he denounced Fascism, Greek President Karolos Papoulias – who fought Nazis in World War II – was accused by the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party that adores Hitler of being a traitor and politician who has sold out his country.
In his New Year’s Day message to the nation, the 83-year-old president attacked Golden Dawn, claiming it was hard to believe that Greeks would accept neo-Nazis since they had fought against them during World War II.
“Personally, I refuse to accept that fascist-inspired phenomena suit a nation such as the Greek people, who gave thousands of dead to the European challenge to free itself from Nazism,” he said. He has been one of the few political leaders to speak out against Golden Dawn as Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has said almost nothing about the rising party that is challenging the base of his New Democracy Conservatives.
Golden Dawn’s founder and leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos did not attend the President’s traditional meeting with all Greece’s political parties, claiming he denies any interaction with those “responsible for the international vilification of the country and the leveling of the Greek people”.
He responded to Papoulias by saying Fascism is not to blame for “the current daily robbery of this country by foreign usurpers and plutocrats,” referring to Greece’s international lenders who have demanded harsh austerity measures in return. (Those to blame are) the traitors and sold-out politicians,” he claimed. “A noble class to which the president evidently belongs.”
Papoulias’ spokesperson declined to comment. The Nazis committed many atrocities against Greeks during WWII, including massacres at a number of villages where they killed men, women and children. Golden Dawn includes Hitler’s Mein Kampf in its literature but has denied being Nazi-lovers.
(Source: ibtimes)
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
