Why did the Spartans stay out of the European elections?

Explicit reference to the relations of Spartans by Ilias Kasidiaris does in his rationale o Supreme Courtputting brake on the party’s candidacy in the June 9 European elections. As emphasized, the party “promotes a policy that does not respect democracy and aims to weaken and destroy the democratic state and the institutions of the rule of law, in particular by the use of violence or the incitement to use violence».

For more than 50 pagesthe decision No. 1/2024 of the A1 Political Department of the Supreme Court refers to the reasons that led to the non-proclamation of the Spartans, judging that the convicted criminal organization Golden Dawn is the real leader of the Spartans. After first contrasting the reasoning of the Three-Member Court of Criminal Appeals that condemned the former leadership of Golden Dawn, Areios Pagos refers to the Spartans and their connection with Il. Kasidiaris, a case for which criminal charges have been brought against 11 current and former MPs of the party and Il. Kasidiaris.

Specifically, he points out that the latter is the one who chose the current MPs, whom he guided through the prisons. In fact, according to the decision, before the national elections a plan had appeared, based on which, immediately after their election, “they would overthrow Vasilios Stigas and appoint the new leader of the party, Haralambos Katsivardas, fully controlled by Ilias Kasidiaris. In addition, they would receive the amount of the state grant, for which the “Spartans” party had already received approximately 40,000 euros. In other words, the above actually offered the “Spartan” party as a cloak for a new politician party to Ilias Kasidiaris, making it easier for him to circumvent them eligibility restrictions set by the electoral legislation”.

And the decision concludes: “Ilias Kasidiaris, real leader of the “SPARTATES” party, which replaces “GOLDEN DAWN” never disapproved or demobilized, even in the slightest, the previous – as a leader of the GOLDEN DAWN – hate speech, his violent and racist action, in the context of the criminal mechanism of the aforementioned party, copying the institutional mechanisms of the Greek state, the intended policy of overthrowing the democratic institutions of the rule of law and the disapproval of the rights and freedoms recognized by democracy. In this case it appears that the party “SPARTIATES”, whose real leader is Ilias Kasidiaris, was sentenced to a total sentence of 13 years and 6 months for the crime of joining and directing the criminal organization “LAIKOS SYNDESMOS – GOLDEN DAWN” and the illegal possession of a firearm, which he carries out, promotes a policy that does not respect democracy and aims to weaken and destroy the democratic polity and the institutions of the rule of law, in particular by the use of violence or the incitement to violence, as well as the justification thereof, the promotion of totalitarian ideologies, the spread of racist and intolerant ideas and xenophobia, the endorsement of crimes against humanity, hatred of persons and groups, actions and declarations that threaten the peaceful coexistence of social groups in the country. Following the above, the party “SPARTATES must not be declared and therefore not participate in the elections for the nomination of the members of the European Parliament on 9-6-2024”.