Greek bigot becomes government minster

This video is called Golden Dawn‘s overt antisemitism: Greek Far Right party aims slurs at AJC’s David Harris.

Greek Jews criticize selection of ‘xenophobic’ politician as minister

By SAM SOKOL

06/16/2014 02:41

MP Makis Voridis has a history of membership in ultra-nationalist parties.

The Greek Jewish community expressed “strong resentment” at the appointment of MP Makis Voridis as health minister last week, implying the move was indicative of the government’s failure to act against anti-Semitism. Greece was ranked the most anti-Semitic country outside of the Middle East and North Africa by a recent Anti-Defamation League (ADL) global survey.

Voridis has a history of membership in ultra-nationalist parties. He was one of several members of the populist, nationalistic Popular Orthodox Rally faction who joined the ruling New Democracy party two years ago. Prime Minister Antonis Samaras was criticized for welcoming the nationalists and was accused of pandering to the far right in a bid to stem the loss of votes to the allegedly neo-Nazi Golden Dawn, which emerged as the third-largest party in Greece.

Samaras maintains that those who joined New Democracy have committed to abide by party policy, which condemns anti-Semitism and racism.

Voridis has since written to the Jewish community, expressing his opposition to Holocaust denial and his commitment to “putting an end to anti-Semitic, racist prejudice which is an outright violation of human dignity.”

In a statement on its website, the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece castigated Voridis as someone who had “expressed xenophobic and intolerant views in the past and – until a couple of years ago – had been an executive member of a party that had repeatedly endorsed racist and extreme anti-Semitic views.”

“It is our firm belief that participation in the government should not be used to obliterate the political course of a politician whose attitude and ideology have afflicted democracy,” the group asserted. “The goal should be to send a strong message of brave and determined attitude, leaving no space for misinterpretations and short-term political expediency, to build a solid, firm and effective front against racism, intolerance, anti-Semitism, and the followers of Nazism.”

“Given the alarming results of the recent elections in Greece, which indicate that the policy and efforts undertaken so far by the government to combat these phenomena have proved insufficient, we express the hope that such efforts will be significantly enhanced.”

Speaking with Greek newspaper Kathimerini, ADL national director Abraham Foxman said that he was “saddened and concerned by the appointment of Makis Voridis as Health Minister” and that he believed the appointment undermined Samaras’s fight against anti-Semitism.

‘Ef. Syn’ brings to light a series of photographic documents which certify the relation between Golden Dawn members and Nazism. We have had enough of hearing Golden Dawn denying strenuously any relation to Nazism and assuring at all times they are nothing but genuine Greek patriots, simply nationalists: here.