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| Push for Antiracism Bill Leads to Rift in Greek Coalition | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| ATHENS — The issue of how to deal with a surge in racist violence in Greece opened a rift within the country’s fragile governing coalition on Tuesday, when the two junior parties in the coalition said they would push ahead with an anti-racism bill over the objections of the conservative senior party. | ATHENS — The issue of how to deal with a surge in racist violence in Greece opened a rift within the country’s fragile governing coalition on Tuesday, when the two junior parties in the coalition said they would push ahead with an anti-racism bill over the objections of the conservative senior party. |
| Greece has seen a rising number of attacks on non-Greeks in the country in recent years, as its economic woes have taken hold. An increasingly popular anti-immigrant party of the far right, Golden Dawn, has been broadly linked to the violence. The issue has sparked the most intense dispute within the government since it was cobbled together after inconclusive elections last June, when the country’s solvency and future in the euro zone hung in the balance. | Greece has seen a rising number of attacks on non-Greeks in the country in recent years, as its economic woes have taken hold. An increasingly popular anti-immigrant party of the far right, Golden Dawn, has been broadly linked to the violence. The issue has sparked the most intense dispute within the government since it was cobbled together after inconclusive elections last June, when the country’s solvency and future in the euro zone hung in the balance. |
| Talks among the leaders of the three coalition parties over the anti-racism bill broke down on Monday night, with the socialist party, Pasok, and the moderate Democratic Left, insisting that the bill go to Parliament immediately. The conservative New Democracy party countered that the existing legislative framework was adequate and required no amendment. | Talks among the leaders of the three coalition parties over the anti-racism bill broke down on Monday night, with the socialist party, Pasok, and the moderate Democratic Left, insisting that the bill go to Parliament immediately. The conservative New Democracy party countered that the existing legislative framework was adequate and required no amendment. |
| Pasok and the Democratic Left said on Tuesday that they would submit the bill anyway, without the backing of the conservatives, whom both have accused of governing without due consultation with the smaller parties. In doing so, they defied the conservative prime minister, Antonis Samaras. | Pasok and the Democratic Left said on Tuesday that they would submit the bill anyway, without the backing of the conservatives, whom both have accused of governing without due consultation with the smaller parties. In doing so, they defied the conservative prime minister, Antonis Samaras. |
| The stated aim of the anti-racism bill, drafted by the justice minister, Antonis Roupakiotis of the Democratic Left, is to impose tougher penalties for inciting racist attacks: up to two years in prison and fines of up to about $26,000 for individuals or $260,000 for organizations. | The stated aim of the anti-racism bill, drafted by the justice minister, Antonis Roupakiotis of the Democratic Left, is to impose tougher penalties for inciting racist attacks: up to two years in prison and fines of up to about $26,000 for individuals or $260,000 for organizations. |
| But it is also intended to curb the growing influence of Golden Dawn, which now ranks third in national opinion polls, after the conservatives and the main leftist opposition party, Syriza. | But it is also intended to curb the growing influence of Golden Dawn, which now ranks third in national opinion polls, after the conservatives and the main leftist opposition party, Syriza. |
| Late on Monday, the Pasok leader, Evangelos Venizelos, made it clear that the bill was aimed at Golden Dawn, saying that “Greece has a political grouping that is unashamedly Nazi and organizes acts violating the rule of law.'” | Late on Monday, the Pasok leader, Evangelos Venizelos, made it clear that the bill was aimed at Golden Dawn, saying that “Greece has a political grouping that is unashamedly Nazi and organizes acts violating the rule of law.'” |
| Syriza and other critics of the government have accused the conservatives of turning against the anti-racism bill, which they originally supported, out of reluctance to face down Golden Dawn and because representatives of the powerful Orthodox Church and the armed forces oppose the bill, saying it would curb freedom of speech. | Syriza and other critics of the government have accused the conservatives of turning against the anti-racism bill, which they originally supported, out of reluctance to face down Golden Dawn and because representatives of the powerful Orthodox Church and the armed forces oppose the bill, saying it would curb freedom of speech. |
| Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Commission’s home affairs commissioner, visited Athens last week and expressed concern about an increase in racially motivated attacks and the increasing popularity of Golden Dawn. She said on Tuesday that she hoped the bill would be submitted to the Greek Parliament ‘'as promised.'’ | Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Commission’s home affairs commissioner, visited Athens last week and expressed concern about an increase in racially motivated attacks and the increasing popularity of Golden Dawn. She said on Tuesday that she hoped the bill would be submitted to the Greek Parliament ‘'as promised.'’ |
| Golden Dawn catapulted from obscurity last June to win seats in Parliament for the first time, after campaigning on a heavily anti-immigrant platform. In the splintered Greek political landscape, it has been attracting about 10 percent support in recent polls; the largest party, New Democracy, gets about 20 percent, with Syriza around two percentage points behind. | Golden Dawn catapulted from obscurity last June to win seats in Parliament for the first time, after campaigning on a heavily anti-immigrant platform. In the splintered Greek political landscape, it has been attracting about 10 percent support in recent polls; the largest party, New Democracy, gets about 20 percent, with Syriza around two percentage points behind. |
| The dispute over the anti-racism bill has dominated debate in the Greek news media, even as the government scrambles to push through austerity measures that have been demanded by the country’s international lenders. Many commentators in the Greek news media have speculated that the rift may have been staged, or at least exaggerated, as a way of distracting public attention from another round of austerity, including thousands of layoffs in the Civil Service. Representatives of the international lenders are due in Athens next week. | The dispute over the anti-racism bill has dominated debate in the Greek news media, even as the government scrambles to push through austerity measures that have been demanded by the country’s international lenders. Many commentators in the Greek news media have speculated that the rift may have been staged, or at least exaggerated, as a way of distracting public attention from another round of austerity, including thousands of layoffs in the Civil Service. Representatives of the international lenders are due in Athens next week. |