Greek parliament freezes funding for Golden Dawn

Lawmakers vote to slash state funding to neo-Nazi party, Greece’s third most popular political faction

Students shout slogans as they march through the city center of Athens during a protest against the far-right Golden Dawn party, Athens, on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Kostas Tsironis)
Students shout slogans as they march through the city center of Athens during a protest against the far-right Golden Dawn party, Athens, on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 (photo credit: AP/Kostas Tsironis)

ATHENS, Greece — Greece cut off state funding for the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn party Wednesday in keeping with a law that requires that punishment for parties accused of criminal activities.

Parliament voted 241-26 on Wednesday to suspend the funding. Five lawmakers abstained and 28 were absent.

Authorities cracked down on Golden Dawn after the fatal stabbing of a Greek musician in August. A party supporter has been charged with murder.

Golden Dawn’s leader and two other of its 18 lawmakers were jailed in September, charged with membership in a criminal organization. Their cases are not directly linked with the killing.

The party’s leadership has expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler, and it was once marginal. But recent polls have made it Greece’s third most popular party, thanks in part to the country’s economic crisis.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

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