Keeping the zealots at bay

Archbishop Ieronymos, the leader of the Orthodox Church of Greece, swiftly recognized the potential danger: Over the Easter holiday, churches across the country could become arenas for disapproval and harassment, potentially escalating beyond control.

The assault on New Democracy MP Angeliki Delikari, who was slapped by a female candidate for the religious nationalist Niki (Victory) party, could easily ignite similar incidents. The timing is, after all, ideal, coinciding with the approaching Easter celebrations, which draw large congregations nationwide and consequently increase the audience for those seeking attention through extreme actions. Concurrently, as the campaigning for European elections reaches its zenith, there is a propensity for sensationalist gestures and attempts to garner attention, even through controversial means.

While the attack on Delikari may...