In Greece, the light blue bar moves a little higher with each new poll. For the time being, that number is below 10% and this trend may be anecdotal. Except that this light blue bar belongs to Elliniki Lissi (Greek Solution), a shadowy political party on the extreme right of the Greek political spectrum.
According to the poll, the 3% threshold needed to enter the European Parliament would be passed by The Spartans and Victory, two other right-wing populist groups already established in the National Assembly. .
If this trend continues, this ensemble could emerge stronger than ever, taking over 15% of the vote. Nonetheless, the reaction to this dark turn of events was weak to the point of non-existence. In fact, experts asked about this topic tend to have the same response. There is a long silence followed by “I don’t know what to say” or “I’m having a hard time”!
for filmmakers Angelique KurunisHe has produced two documentaries about the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn.Golden Dawn – Personal circumstances In 2016 Golden Dawn – Public Affairs 2021), “Only those who have already mobilized both the left and the extreme left are participating in the anti-fascist movement.”
In other words, the war against the far right is being waged by a small number of activists. In fact, the same faces always appear at the anti-fascist, anti-racist, and immigrant rights protests held in Athens. This is despite the fact that the Greek capital is home to almost a third of the country’s population.
These activists are mostly members of organizations with prominent names that emerged from the ‘Greek crisis’ of the 2010s. Among them are Keerfa (short for the United Movement Against Racism and the Threat of Fascism), Banish Racism!, and the Athens-Piraeus Anti-Fascist Network.
They all share one particular concern. In the words of Ioanna Meitani: “Does civil society really exist in Greece?” She runs Simeio, a five-member group that raises awareness of the dangers of the far right through her research and educational materials.
“Through a series of articles in the online newspaper Lifo, we are trying to dismantle the rhetoric and themes of far-right parties,” says Meitani. For example, with Greenpeace they looked at agricultural issues when farmers protested earlier this year. Greenpeace’s Elena Danali explains: “We know how the agricultural crisis and the climate crisis are linked, and how the far right is using these crises to gain a foothold and gain votes in the rural world. We have published an alternative proposal.”
She added that unfortunately, “we don’t have the resources to campaign to get out the vote like Greenpeace France does.”
When asked how effective these efforts are, Simeio’s Ioanna Meitani answered candidly: “Unfortunately, there are not many for two reasons. We are a small organization, only three years old. In Greece, when you have an organization like us and you propose an alternative, it is like being under an embargo.”
A quick analysis of TV talk show lineups will confirm this. The right and extreme right are systematically invited to channels owned by ship owners, the construction industry or big oil companies. Their videos are also the most watched.
“There is no real space in the media for positive explanations of social trends or social movements,” said Christos Papagiannis, director of think tank Eteron. “When far-right adversaries appear in the news – usually outside of prime time – they face Attempting to discredit them by saying things like ‘you are a leftist’ or ‘you are not objective’ is not acceptable.
Angélique Kourounis agrees: “Greek society is unaware of the danger that lies ahead. The rise of the far right is happening under their watch. People’s main problem is making a living.”
Ioanna Meitani added: “Our society is afraid of the future. People wonder whether they will still be able to get healthcare or education or make a living. So they embrace simple solutions.”
The situation is even more nuanced when we consider that in 2015, after five years of crisis – financial, economic, social, political and democratic – many Greeks believed that an alternative was possible, and they said so by voting for the former left-wing party Syriza. The spectrum ranges from European communists to Greek-style socialists.
“The hopes of the left have been dashed across Europe, but in Greece the disappointment has been even crueler,” said Yannis Androulidakis, a journalist and keen observer of Greek political life. It has not solved the fundamental problem, and worse, it has sent the message that nothing should be expected from the left.”
With a gun pointed at his head, Alexis Tsipras was forced to sign a memorandum confirming the policies he condemns. And European institutions put an end to the hopes for profound change that Greeks expressed in the election.
Therefore, Androulidakis said, “the rise of the extreme right can be explained by two concomitant phenomena: on the one hand the European climate, even the global climate, and on the other hand the peculiarities of Greece.” In his view, workers’ movements and trade unions, which are losing ground across Europe, are simply unable to come up with a response to the far right.
Finally, Greek society faces another unique challenge. “With the dissolution of the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn in 2020, many people thought the far right had collapsed, but in reality it had merely reorganized itself,” says Angélique Kourounis. Some of them have joined the ranks of the ruling New Democracy, an affiliate of Greece’s conservative EPP. Another part is in parliament with different labels.
The photo may appear dark. Greeks did not appreciate the influence of the extreme right in society. Activists’ rhetoric and actions also have little impact.
Greek society seems to be divided into three tendencies: fatalism, wait-and-see attitude, and outright paralysis. Meanwhile, the extreme right continues to rise both on the bar graph and in people’s minds.
Angélique Kourounis died on May 6, 2024, just a few days after contributing to this article. We would like to pay her tribute to her here.
