The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) has accused the Greek government of helping rehabilitate convicted neo-Nazi political figure Ilias Kasidiaris, following anti-communist remarks by Konstantinos Kyranakis, a prominent official of the ruling New Democracy (ND) party.
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Communist Party of Greece accuses government of whitewashing neo-Nazism and promoting anti-communism
KKE accuses government of whitewashing neo-Nazism and promoting anti-communism
In a statement published on 16 October, the KKE's Central Committee Press Office criticised Kyranakis for equating fascism with communism and invoking the European Union's approach to commemorating the victims of Nazism and communism. The party described his remarks as an expression of the so-called “theory of the two extremes,” arguing that this comparison equates Nazi perpetrators with the millions of people who were their victims, including communists who played a leading role in the anti-fascist struggle.
The controversy followed Kyranakis's response to a question about polling support for Kasidiaris. According to media reports, Kyranakis said he was also concerned about people voting for the KKE, which he characterised as authoritarian and undemocratic, and placed support for Kasidiaris and the KKE on opposing ends of what he described as the same political spectrum. He also referred to the EU's joint commemoration of victims of Nazism and communism.
The KKE argued that Kyranakis's response exposed the government's real concern: the growth of communist political influence rather than the electoral support of the far right. It accused the government of presenting Kasidiaris as “anti-establishment” while contributing to the normalisation of neo-Nazi politics.
The party further linked the controversy to Greece's involvement in war-related policies. It argued that the government, while preparing for deeper military involvement, was both legitimising far-right forces that could serve its interests and attacking the KKE, which opposes what it describes as dangerous war plans serving the interests of major business groups.
Concluding its statement, the KKE referred to the 200 communist prisoners executed by Nazi occupation forces at Kaisariani in May 1944. It urged young people to study history to understand the distinction between those who resisted fascism and those who perpetrated fascist crimes. The party also highlighted its influence among students, university youth and young workers, presenting this as a source of concern for the government and the political establishment.