On the ineligibility of convicted neo-Nazis

In any other European state, there would be no debate about allowing convicted neo-Nazis to submit their candidacy for any level of government, be it in local, national or European elections. This is often overlooked when discussing the possible election of members from the now-defunct neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, and its convicted former spokesman, Ilias Kasidiaris.

Anywhere else in Europe, Kasidiaris' conviction and multi-year prison sentence by a court of first instance would have been enough to lose such rights. In other words, he would not be permitted to vote nor to stand as a candidate while serving his sentence.

In Greece, this cannot be done for reasons relating to the past persecution of the Left. Since 1975, the Greek Constitution has stipulated (Article 51, Par. 3) that one may lose the right to vote and be elected only after an irrevocable conviction; that...