Only a few hours after he prevented the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party from conducting a Greeks-Only free Easter food handout in the city’s downtown center, Athens Mayor George Kaminis was assaulted by one of its deputies, who injured a 12-year-girl in the attack, authorities said.
Giorgos Germenis tried to hit Kaminis, who was at the time inside the premises of the municipality’s social grocery handing out Easter candles to children, but was stopped by the mayor’s security guards. Germenis tried to reach for his gun, a witness told journalists without identifying himself. Speaking to Vima FM, Kaminis confirmed the allegations.
Greece allows Members of Parliament to carry weapons, even into the building itself. Many of Golden Dawn’s 18 MP’s have been stripped of their immunity for all crimes and the party’s spokesman is awaiting trial for assaulting two female Leftist MP’s on a live TV show last year.
Golden Dawn officials were furious that Kaminis, keeping to his word, kept them from the free food giveaway that has become one of their hallmarks, along with its hatred for immigrants, whom they want deported.
Greek riot police were called to Syntagma Square in the early morning hours and blocked a Golden Dawn van and battled with about 40 of its members who confronted them.
Kaminis said the practice was discriminatory and ordred it blocked in want he called a “victory for the democratic state.” The party, as it did last year, brought a van packed with lamb and eggs, to Syntagma Square across from the Parliament in the early morning hours but said people would have to prove they were Greek to get it.
“Syntagma Square will never be used again by anyone to hand out goods,” he told SKAI “This square belongs to the city’s residents. Only the municipality can decide how it is used.” “Thuggery will not prevail in this city as long as I am mayor,” he added. We must keep the city standing and prevent its image from collapsing.”
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