National Party – Greeks

File:Logo of the Greeks for the Fatherland.svg

After Golden Dawn's failure to secure seats in the 2019 Greek legislative election,{{Cite web|title=Neo-fascist Golden Dawn party crashes out of Greek parliament|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/07/neo-fascist-golden-dawn-party-crashes-greek-parliament-190708060921804.html|access-date=21 August 2020|website=www.aljazeera.com}}{{Cite web|date=2 September 2019|title=After murder, defections and poll defeat: the sun sets on Greece's Golden Dawn|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/sep/21/greece-sun-has-set-on-far-right-golden-dawn-murder-defections|access-date=21 August 2020|website=the Guardian|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The dusk after the dawn: fall of a Greek Neo-Nazi party|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/countering-radical-right/dusk-after-dawn-fall-greek-neo-nazi-party/|access-date=21 August 2020|website=openDemocracy|language=en}} prominent members of the party stepped down from their positions and distanced themselves from leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos.{{Cite web|title=Δημήτρης Ψαρράς: "Δεν νοείται Χρυσή Αυγή χωρίς τον Αρχηγό της"|url=https://www.lifo.gr/articles/opinions/218819/kyriaki-lifo-now-dimitris-psarras-den-noeitai-xrysi-aygi-xoris-ton-arxigo-tis|access-date=21 August 2020|website=LiFO|date=16 December 2018 |language=el}} Noticeably, Giannis Lagos MEP announced his departure from Golden Dawn, along with Giorgos Germenis, Nikos Kouzilos and Panagiotis Iliopoulos to start a new party called National Popular Consciousness.{{Cite web|title=Ο Λαγός έριξε τη Χρυσή Αυγή στον... Καιάδα|url=https://www.efsyn.gr/politiki/203723_o-lagos-erixe-ti-hrysi-aygi-ston-kaiada|access-date=21 August 2020|website=Η Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών|date=15 July 2019 |language=el-GR}}{{Cite web|title=Υπό διάλυση η Χρυσή Αυγή – Ανεξαρτητοποιήθηκε ο Λαγός|url=https://www.sofokleousin.gr/ypo-dialysi-i-xrysi-aygi-aneksartitopoiithike-o-lagos|access-date=21 August 2020|website=www.sofokleousin.gr|date=13 July 2019 |language=el}}{{Cite news|last=Publisher|first=Aftodioikisi|date=1 July 2019|title=Μετά από Λαγό Ηλιόπουλο, φεύγουν Γερμενής, Κούζηλος|url=https://www.aftodioikisi.gr/politiki/meta-apo-lago-iliopoylo-feygoyn-germenis-koyzilos/|access-date=21 August 2020|website=Aftodioikisi.gr|language=el}} All of them were later sentenced to lengthy prison terms as a result of their involvement in running a criminal organisation.

Similarly, on 21 May 2020{{Cite web|date=2 May 2020|title=Νέο κόμμα ανακοίνωσε ο Ηλίας Κασιδιάρης|url=https://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/1008647/neo-komma-anakoinose-o-ilias-kasidiaris/|access-date=21 August 2020|website=ProtoThema|language=el}} and after much speculation, Ilias Kasidiaris an MP of Golden Dawn for eight consecutive years, from 2012 to 2019, announced his resignation via YouTube, and the creation of a new party led by himself, under the name Greeks for the Fatherland.{{Cite news|title=Ο Κασιδιάρης γυρνά την πλάτη στο Μιχολολιάκο και ιδρύει με βίντεο νέο κόμμα|url=https://www.skai.gr/news/politics/o-kasidiaris-gyrna-tin-plati-sto-mixololiako-kai-idryei-me-vinteo-neo-komma|access-date=21 August 2020|newspaper=Skai.gr|date=21 May 2020 |language=el}}{{Cite web|date=2 May 2020|title=Χρυσή Αυγή: Η αποχώρηση Κασιδιάρη είναι το κερασάκι στην "τούρτα" της αποσύνθεσης|url=https://www.ethnos.gr/politiki/106821_hrysi-aygi-i-apohorisi-kasidiari-einai-kerasaki-stin-toyrta-tis-aposynthesis|access-date=21 August 2020|website=Έθνος|language=el}} However, he was arrested in October 2020 right after the announcement of his conviction.{{Cite news |date=22 October 2020 |title=Convicted leader of Greece's far-right Golden Dawn hands himself in |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-greece-golden-dawn-trial-idUKKBN2771FN |access-date=1 May 2022}}

In May 2021, the Greek Parliament voted to impose partial bans on all convicted members of Golden Dawn, including Ilias Kasidiaris, which stripped them of some political rights.{{Cite web |last=Γεωργιοπούλου |first=Τάνια |title=Στέρηση πολιτικών δικαιωμάτων για τους καταδικασμένους της Χρυσής Αυγής {{!}} Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/561380725/sterisi-politikon-dikaiomaton-gia-toys-katadikasmenoys-tis-chrysis-aygis/ |access-date=10 April 2022 |website=www.kathimerini.gr|date=29 May 2021 }}

As of 2022, Kasidiaris remains in prison and maintains his right to be elected as party member, but is not allowed to stand for leader of a party.{{Cite web |date=13 March 2022 |title=Προβληματισμός για την αύξηση των ποσοστών του Κασιδιάρη – Γιατί δεν μπορεί να είναι υποψήφιος πρόεδρος στις εκλογές |url=https://www.thetoc.gr/politiki/article/problimatismos-gia-tin-auxisi-ton-pososton-tou-kasidiari---giati-den-mporei-na-einai-upopsifios-proedros-stis-ekloges/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=The TOC |language=el}} Former Golden Dawn MP Konstantinos Barbarousis, who is also serving his prison sentence, and former Golden Dawn MEP Lampros Fountoulis have joined the party.

Ioannis Malandris, former general secretary and many other former members of the "Patriotic Radical Union" party joined Kasidiaris party in 2022.{{cite web | url=https://www.oxafies.com/2023/01/blog-post_712.html?m=1 | title="Γελοία" απόφαση μιας "γελοίας" κυβέρνησης }}

{{Cite web |last=Group) |first=Radiotileoptiki S. A. (OPEN Digital |date=1 January 1980 |title=Ο Ηλίας Κασιδιάρης "μπροστάρης" σε πορεία στη ΔΕΘ με συνθήματα κατά Μητσοτάκη |url=https://www.ethnos.gr/Politics/article/123546/ohliaskasidiarhsmprostarhsseporeiasthdethmesynthhmatakatamhtsotakh |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=ΕΘΝΟΣ |language=el}}{{Cite web |title=Χρυσή Αυγή: Η καταδίκη φέρνει πολιτική εξαΰλωση – Στο χείλος του γκρεμού και το κόμμα Κασιδιάρη |url=https://www.reader.gr/politiki/340392/hrysi-aygi-i-katadiki-fernei-politiki-exaylosi-sto-heilos-toy-gkremoy-kai-komma |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Reader |language=el}}

In December 2022, the joint descent to the 2023 elections with the National Front and LEPEN was announced.{{cite news | url=http://www.ethnikometopo.gr/enimerosi/2766-%CE%BC%CE%AE%CE%BD%CF%85%CE%BC%CE%B1-%CE%BD%CE%AF%CE%BA%CE%B7%CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%B3%CF%81%CE%AF%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BF | title=Μήνυμα νίκης από το Αγρίνιο | newspaper=Εθνικό Μέτωπο | date=6 December 2022 | author1=Manos }}

In March 2023, the cooperation with EAN of the former deputy prosecutor Anastasios Kanellopoulos was announced, who took over as head of the National Party – Greeks in the position of the political Council of the party.

On 1 April 2023, it was announced that the cooperation of the National Front with the National Party would end due to the ban on Ilias Kasidiaris stepping down as president.{{cite news | url=https://ethnikometopo.gr/enimerosi/2833-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%BF%CE%B4%CE%AD%CF%83%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%85%CF%83%CE%B7-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B5%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CF%83%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%81%CE%B3%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B5%CE%B8%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%BF%CF%8D-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CF%84%CF%8E%CF%80%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%82-%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B5%CF%82 | title=Αποδέσμευση από την εκλογική συνεργασία του Εθνικού Μετώπου με τους | newspaper=Εθνικό Μέτωπο | date=April 2023 }}

Following the exclusion of the National Party from both the May and June 2023 elections, Kasidiaris announced its "full support" for the Spartans political party.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-08 |title=Εκλογές 2023: Τους «Σπαρτιάτες» στηρίζει ο Κασιδιάρης μετά το νέο «μπλόκο» |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2023/06/08/politics/ekloges-2023-tous-spartiates-stirizei-o-kasidiaris-meta-to-neo-mploko/ |website=ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ |language=el}}{{Cite web |title=Εκλογές 2023: Τα 32 κόμματα που συμμετέχουν |date=8 June 2023 |url=https://www.protothema.gr/politics/article/1379923/ekloges-2023-ta-32-kommata-pou-summetehoun/ |publisher=protothema.gr}} The Spartans party won 12 seats in the elections. In his first public statement after the election, Stigkas openly thanked Kasidiaris for "[being] the fuel that has propelled us to [entering parliament]".{{Cite web |date=2023-06-25 |title=Η πρώτη δήλωση του προέδρου των Σπαρτιατών και το "ευχαριστώ" στον Κασιδιάρη |url=https://www.naftemporiki.gr/politics/1487090/i-proti-dilosi-toy-proedroy-ton-spartiaton-kai-to-eycharisto-ston-kasidiari/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=www.naftemporiki.gr |language=el}}

In its official website, the party states it aims at reverting the demographic decline, develop the Greek national economy and that it favors anti-immigration.{{Cite web |title=Κυβερνητικό Πρόγραμμα |url=https://ellhnes.net/theseis-ellines/ |access-date=13 August 2022 |website=ΕΛΛΗΝΕΣ {{!}} ELLHNES.net |date=17 March 2021 |language=en-US}}

The party has not openly embraced neo-Nazism and Kasidiaris' statement in 2020 rejected Nazism.{{Cite web |last=Tsagkroni |first=Vasiliki |date=2020 |title=In Greece, a new far right movement is taking the stage |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/countering-radical-right/greece-new-far-right-movement-taking-stage/ |website=OpenDemocracy}} However, being an offspring of Golden Dawn, the party appears to share similar views with its core ideology,{{Cite news |last1=Chappell |first1=Bill |last2=Kakissis |first2=Joanna |date=14 October 2020 |title=Golden Dawn: Leader Of Greek Neo-Nazi Party Sentenced To 13 Years In Prison |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/14/923605755/golden-dawn-leader-of-greek-neo-nazi-party-sentenced-to-13-years-in-prison |access-date=16 May 2022}} mainly in terms of ultra-nationalism, anti-immigration, Islamophobia and rejection of globalization. As a consequence, its political ideology is being questioned in relation to the past events and recent split from Golden Dawn{{Cite web |last=Σ |first=Κανέλλης Βασίλης |date=24 March 2022 |title=Οι ακροδεξιοί του Κασιδιάρη ξανά στη Βουλή; |url=https://www.tovima.gr/2022/03/24/opinions/oi-akrodeksioi-tou-kasidiari-tha-mpoun-ksana-sti-vouli-kai-ti-kanoume-gi-ayto/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=Ειδήσεις – νέα – Το Βήμα Online |language=el}}{{Cite web |date=6 June 2020 |title=Κόμμα Κασιδιάρη: Νεοναζισμός με πατέντα |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.gr/entry/komma-kasidiare-kamoeflarismenos-nazismos_gr_5eda9cb4c5b68a90de7685c7 |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=HuffPost Greece |language=el}}{{Cite web |last=Κανέλλης |first=Βασίλης Σ |date=8 October 2021 |title=Ο οργασμός της σκύλας, ο νεοναζί Κασιδιάρης και οι φασίστες συμπολίτες μας |url=https://www.in.gr/2021/10/08/apopsi/o-orgasmos-tis-skylas-o-neonazi-kasidiaris-kai-oi-fasistes-sympolites-mas/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=in.gr |language=el}} and some academics, Greek and International media have described Greeks for the Fatherland as extremist{{Cite journal |last=Boukala |first=Salomi |date=9 December 2021 |title=Far-right discourse as legitimacy? Analysing political rhetoric on the "migration issue" in Greece |url=https://www.hope.uzh.ch/scoms/article/view/boukala2021 |journal=Studies in Communication Sciences |language=en |volume=21 |issue=2 |pages=329–341–329–341 |doi=10.24434/j.scoms.2021.02.014 |issn=2296-4150 |s2cid=237951991|doi-access=free }} and far-right.{{Cite web |last=Newsroom |title=Το τελευταίο (;) τανγκό της Χρυσής Αυγής {{!}} Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ |url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/561088237/to-teleytaio-tangko-tis-chrysis-aygis/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=www.kathimerini.gr|date=22 September 2020 }} The party is person-centric with Ilias Kasidiaris being the leading voice.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2022 |title=Έρευνα: Η Χρυσή Αυγή από τα έδρανα στη φυλακή – Ενδείξεις προνομιακής μεταχείρισης; |url=https://parallaximag.gr/erevna-chrysi-avgi-apo-ta-edrana-sti-fylaki-endeikseis-pronomiakis-metacheirisis-133971 |access-date=22 May 2022 |website=parallaximag.gr |language=el}}

A member of Greeks of the Fatherland is associated with the fringe antivax group Thematofylakes tou Syntagmatos (Greek: Θεματοφύλακες του Συντάγματος). He was among a group of Thematofylakes tou Syntagmatos members that were arrested for insurrection, violence against public workers, and the kidnapping of a school headmaster in Pieria.{{Cite web |date=11 December 2021 |title=Αποκάλυψη του in.gr: Χρυσαυγίτης και στο κόμμα του Κασιδιάρη ο απαγωγέας του καθηγητή στην Πιερία |url=https://www.tanea.gr/2021/12/11/greece/thematofylakes-tou-syntagmatos-apokalypsi-tou-in-gr-xrysaygitis-kai-sto-komma-tou-kasidiari-o-apagogeas-tou-kathigiti/ |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=ΤΑ ΝΕΑ |language=el}} Some youth neo-Nazi groups in Central Greece have also been linked to Greeks for the Fatherland in late 2021 after their involvement in violent student protests.{{Cite news |title=Το αυγό του φιδιού επωάζεται στις Δυτικές συνοικίες |url=https://parallaximag.gr/to-avgo-tou-fidiou-epoazetai-stis-dytikes-synoikies-130722 |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=parallaximag.gr |date=22 January 2022 |language=el}}{{Cite web |last=Provo.Gang |title=Με το #Μαζι_σου_Ηλια βγήκε ο φασίστας της διπλανής πόρτας στο φως |url=https://provocateur.gr/out-about/22843/me-to-mazi-soy-hlia-bghke-o-fasistas-ths-diplanhs-portas-sto-fws |access-date=16 May 2022 |website=Provocateur |date=8 October 2021 |language=el}}

In January 2023, efforts began by the Greek Government to ban Kasidiaris' party from running in the 2023 elections.{{cite web | url=https://www.dw.com/el/%CE%BF%CE%B9-%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%B1%CE%B6%CE%AF-%CF%80%CF%81%CE%BF%CF%83%CF%80%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE%BF%CF%8D%CE%BD-%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%B5%CF%80%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CF%81%CE%AD%CF%88%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BD-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%B5%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BD%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%AE-%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BB%CE%AE/a-64461637 | title=Οι νεοναζί προσπαθούν να επιστρέψουν στην ελληνική Βουλή }} On 8 February 2023, an amendment was nominated by the Plenary of the Hellenic Parliament, which puts a brake on the descent of Ilias Kasidiaris in the 2023 elections, but also on other political figures whose leaders have been convicted of criminal acts.{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.gr/politiki/story/349403/vouli-perase-i-diataksi-gia-to-stop-sto-komma-kasidiari/amp | title=Βουλή: Πέρασε η διάταξη για το "στοπ" στο κόμμα Κασιδιάρη – "Ναι" από ΝΔ- ΠΑΣΟΚ, "παρών" από ΣΥΡΙΖΑ | date=8 February 2023 }} The party was banned from running in the election by the Areios Pagos on 2 May 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/2/greeces-top-court-bans-far-right-party-from-election|title=Greece's top court bans far-right party from May election|date=2 May 2023|accessdate=5 May 2023|work=Al Jazeera}}

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• {{Official website|https://ellhnes.net}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:National Party - Greeks}}

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