Ilias Kasidiaris, former deputy leader of Golden Dawn, left a prison in basic Greece this week and quickly announced plans to return to politics. He was released after serving just over half of his 13-and-a-half-year sentence for running a criminal organization, opening a new chapter for Greece's far right.
Now 45, Kasidiaris left prison after seven years, with his sentence reduced for prison labor. Dozens of supporters waited outside to greet him, a sign that he still holds sway among nationalist circles even after Golden Dawn's collapse.
Legal experts estimate that Kasidiaris will remain barred from running in national elections until at least October 2033, because the ban is tied to the full length of his sentence rather than his time served.
In 2020, Greek courts officially labeled Golden Dawn a criminal network. The party, which had become the third-largest in parliament between 2012 and 2019, was found responsible for organizing violent attacks against immigrants and left-wing activists. The verdict sent Kasidiaris and several other senior members, including party leader Nikolaos Mijaloliakos, to prison, effectively outlawing the group. Outlets including AFP and Ekathimerini described the conviction as a major moment in Greece's efforts to curb political extremism.
Kasidiaris says he wants to launch what he calls a "new and strong national party," hoping to tap into the current momentum of far-right movements across Europe. He has made clear that he intends to challenge Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government, which has faced criticism from the left and the right. Legal changes passed in 2023 still prevent anyone convicted of leading a criminal organization from heading or controlling a party list in elections, judicial sources cited in To Vima and other Greek media report.
Greek law blocks anyone convicted of organized crime from leading a party in national elections. Kasidiaris's legal team has said he will try to circumvent the ban by joining an existing political group for the 2027 general elections instead of starting a new party under his own name. The approach is intended to comply with restrictions set by the Supreme Court, which can disqualify parties led in practice by people convicted of such crimes.
Kasidiaris's release has sparked concern among Greek and international observers amid a broader rise in right-wing populism across Europe. Hurriyet Daily News and Times of Israel reported that the event reignited debate about the ability to recover of extremist networks and whether legal bans can curb their influence.
Kasidiaris's return to public life highlights the ongoing appeal of nationalist rhetoric in parts of Greek society. Golden Dawn remains officially banned, but the grievances and networks that fueled its rise have not disappeared. The Greek government faces the challenge of enforcing legal barriers while addressing the social and political conditions that allow such figures to regain ground. Kasidiaris's early release and immediate pledge to resume political activity show the limits of legal measures alone in tackling extremism, as volatility persists at the edges of Greek politics.
