Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has said that Greece's Supreme Court, not the government, will determine whether Ilias Kasidiaris - a convicted former leading member of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn organization - can run as a candidate in upcoming elections.
Speaking on Action24, Mr. Marinakis said the matter falls to the judiciary, which enacts the relevant laws, after being asked about Mr. Kasidiaris's push for early release and a potential political comeback.
Greek courts ruled Golden Dawn a criminal organization in 2020, convicting Mr. Kasidiaris and other senior members over hate crimes including the 2013 murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas.
Mr. Marinakis said Greece cannot ignore that an audience still exists for someone who expressed Nazi-inspired views, adding that officials have a responsibility to explain publicly that political extremes have never solved Greece's problems or offered solutions to improve citizens' lives.
"We must explain to young people that their lives won't improve through extreme views," Mr. Marinakis said.
Mr. Kasidiaris has since founded a new party and previously ran as an independent candidate while imprisoned, with his eligibility for future ballots subject to the Supreme Court's review of candidacy rules for convicted individuals.