Ilias Kasidiaris, once a key figure in the banned Golden Dawn party, has left prison after serving part of his sentence for leading a criminal organization. He now aims to re-enter Greek politics despite legal barriers.
Ilias Kasidiaris, former deputy leader of Golden Dawn, walked out of a central Greece prison 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 the far right in Greece.
Now 45, Kasidiaris left prison after seven years, his sentence reduced for prison labor. Outside, dozens of supporters waited to greet him, showing 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, as the ban is tied to the full length of his sentence, not just 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. That verdict sent Kasidiaris, party leader Nikolaos Mijaloliakos, and several other senior members to prison, effectively outlawing the group. Reports from outlets like AFP and Ekathimerini described the conviction as a major moment in Greece's efforts to curb political extremism.
Kasidiaris now 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 it clear he intends to challenge Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis's government, which has faced criticism from both left and right. But legal changes passed in 2023 still prevent anyone convicted of leading a criminal organization from heading or controlling a party list in elections, according to judicial sources cited in To Vima and other Greek media.
Greek law blocks anyone convicted of organized crime from leading a party in national elections. Kasidiaris's legal team has already said he will try to get around this ban by joining an existing political group for the 2027 general elections, rather than starting a new party under his own name. This approach is meant to work within the 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, who note that his return comes amid a broader rise in right-wing populism across Europe. Media outlets such as Hurriyet Daily News and Times of Israel report that the event has reignited debates about the resilience of extremist networks and the effectiveness of legal bans in curbing their influence.
Kasidiaris's return to public life highlights the ongoing appeal of nationalist rhetoric in parts of Greek society. While Golden Dawn remains officially banned, the grievances and networks that fueled its rise have not disappeared. The Greek government now faces the challenge of enforcing legal barriers while also 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, and point to the continued volatility at the edges of Greek politics.
