The Greeks (Hellenes) Party is the first party to be disqualified since the restoration of democracy in 1974.
Greece’s Supreme Court has agreed to ban the far-right Greeks (Hellenes) Party from participating in the country’s upcoming general election, scheduled to take place on May 21.
The court’s assembly on Tuesday ruled by a majority of nine to one to uphold amendments adopted by parliament in February, which disqualify parties led by politicians convicted of serious offences, as well as ones that would not “serve the free functioning of [Greece’s] democratic constitution.”
Under those terms, imprisoned former lawmaker Ilias Kasidiaris and his Greeks Party will not be allowed to participate in the vote, despite polling above the 3 percent threshold required to gain representation in parliament.
The ban, broadly supported by Greece’s mainstream political parties, was upheld despite a last-minute change in the Greeks Party leadership.