Neo-Nazi rocker turns Greek MP

A former Nazi-punk rock bassist belonging to Greece’s neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party was sworn into parliament last week, to the consternation and concern of the Anti-Defamation League.

Artemios Mathaiopoulos became a Greek parliamentarian on July 25, replacing Serres Zoe Nikitas, who resigned. Mathaiopoulos is a former bassist for the white supremacist punk band Pogrom, whose lyrics are known for their abrasive, racist, and anti-Semitic character.

An exemplary track was entitled “Auschwitz,” which included lyrics such as “piss on the Wailing Wall,” “Juden Raus,” “f**k Anne Frank,” “f**k the whole tribe of Abraham,” and “Auschwitz, how I love it.”

“It is outrageous, but not surprising, that the latest member of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party to join the Greek parliament has a history of promoting anti-Semitism and racism through his music,” said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. “This is a political party led by anti-Semites and Holocaust deniers and it is troubling that they were elected to parliament amidst Greece’s economic and social crisis.”

Golden Dawn party currently holds 18 seats in the Greek parliament.

The ADL expressed dismay at the announcement, following national elections in May, that Golden Dawn garnered enough votes to earn seats in Parliament. It condemned a senior party official who questioned the Holocaust’s occurrence.