The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Syndicate contentRSS

Golden Dawn’s third place in the polls is not all it seems

The party is only third because of the collapse of others around it.

The leader of Golden Dawn, Nikolaos Michaloliakos.
The leader of Golden Dawn, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, speaks during a press conference at an Athens hotel. Photograph: Getty Images.

Polls in Greece show the far-right Golden Dawn party would come third were an election held tomorrow. The party’s policies include putting landmines on the Greek border to kill illegal immigrants, and its logo is a Hellenised swastika. The country’s Prime Minister and BBC journalists alike have drawn chilling parallels between the rise of Golden Dawn and the rise of the Nazis in the 1930s.

There’s no doubt that Golden Dawn’s mere presence in the Greek Parliament is a worrying development. But the “Golden Dawn is in third place” headline – which has now spread like wildfire through commentary about the situation in Greece – doesn’t quite capture the full picture.

The party may be in third place, but not as a result of any huge growth in support since the last election: in the 2012 elections Golden Dawn ended up with 6.9 per cent and came fifth. Since the election, they have only seen a modest increase of about 3 per cent on that figure, to 9.2 per cent.

The party is only third because of the collapse of others around it. PASOK, which won 43.9 per cent of the vote and a majority in 2009 under George Papandreou, is now on 7.2 per cent after betting the farm on the Trokia’s austerity. Its votes are now mainly split between Syriza and New Democracy.

The story is similar with the Greek Communist Party (KKE): after pursuing a disastrous anti-coalition strategy in 2012, the KKE, recently third-placed itself, has lost most of its votes to Syriza. Likewise, the centre-right, anti-bailout Independent Greeks, which beat Golden Dawn in 2012, has seen its vote drain away both to New Democracy’s promised renegotiation of austerity and Syriza's anti-bailout pole of attraction.

Is it worrying that Golden Dawn has got to where it is? Absolutely. But third place is a lot less impressive than it used to be in Greece.

The party’s poll position also fails to capture the disappearance of the old main far-right party, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS). LAOS were the main anti-immigration party before they joined the pro-bailout coalition government in November 2011, a decision which wiped them off the map politically.

To be sure, Golden Dawn are much nastier than LAOS: where Golden Dawn want to put landmines on the border, LAOS wanted to end all migration from outside the EU and deport many immigrants who were already in Greece – familiar demands from far-right parties across Europe.

But the disappearance of LAOS, which took 5.6 per cent in the 2009 elections, and the sudden emergence of Golden Dawn on 6.9 per cent in 2012, suggests a fairly direct transfer of votes between the two parties.

The number of voters willing to vote for a party of the far-right has gradually crept up as Greek society disintegrates, but an increase from 5.6 per cent to a notional 9.2 per cent over three years of human catastrophe is hardly meteoric, and should be viewed in perspective.

This analysis isn’t meant to denigrate those who repeat that Golden Dawn are now in third place without explaining its context. With honourable exceptions, the human tragedy that is unfolding in Greece is horrendously under-reported: an eye catching headline or two to draw attention to the folly of what is being imposed on the Greeks can only be a good thing.

25 comments

Tosh Posh's picture

I looked at Golden Dawn the other day, she had just come out of the tanning salon, had long false nails too. Oh what a breath of Spring in Autumn, I thought 'this old geezer better not chat her up as she would scratch me to death'.

Greekpatriot's picture

Simos is a a leftist scum. that "theatrical" play was insulting to Orthodox religion.
and it wasnt golden dawn outside the theatre.
Goledn dawn is not terrorizing neighborhood , illegals do. Simos lives in a safer area of Athens and preaches tolerance.

Simos's picture

Dear GreekPatriot, allow me an answer to your accusations:
a) I don't think that Corpus Christi was insulting neither religion nor God. In any case I believe that the omniscient and omnipotent God knows better than anyone else when he is insulted and when not and he certainly does not need self-appointed defenders of any kind.
b) Not only were there Golden Dawn members outside the theater, they were actually led by Golden Dawn MPs, Mr. Panagiotaros and Mr. Pappas, to be specific. Don't lie.
c) Physically attacking people because they are of a different race, they have a different skin color, different political ideas, different sexual orientation, etc, and doing that in an organized manner is terrorism.
d) You would be surprised if i told you where I live. Don' t base your arguments on assumptions.
Better stop here, I think.
Thank you for taking time to read my note and respond.
Take it easy.

John b's picture

I don't care where you live you are an F ing Liberal globalist apologizers for the system created by the bankster oligarchy. You defend a invading cult of primitives who treat members of their families ( especially female ones) in such a manner that would see any white man in the civilized west jailed. You are an educated middle class "champagne socialist" who preaches tolerance towards people who by their own actions deserve none. Like all of your ilk You are out of touch with the working class people of your own nationality,who you disdain while you wax poetic on the oppression of third world foreigners, which is done almost entirely by the ruling classes and Muslim hierarchy of their own societies.
You are absolutely an impediment to the prosperity of your own common people. Go live in a mud hut in Africa where you can indulge your fantasies without harming anyone else.

Simos's picture

Dear friend,

I owe you an apology and a thank you.

Detached as I am from the everyday reality around me, isolated in my safe area located ivory tower, having nothing else to do than drinking champagne and fantasizing revolution, I got drifted away and totally forgot to respond to your message. I apologize.

I also have to thank you because through your messages you have managed to express far better than I would have ever been able to do what Golden Dawn really is. I am grateful.

Of course it would be nice if, for a change, one could find in your messages something other than childish arguments, foolish stereotypes and unabashed hatred. But if you could let yourself think beyond that level, then you wouldn't probably be supporting Golden Dawn, then you wouldn't be the Nazi you are. Would you, now?

Now if you'll excuse be I have to get back to my champagne while it is still cold.

Cheers.

TruthShinesOut's picture

The symbol of Golden Dawn political party/movement is the ANCIENT GREEK "MEANDER" symbol. The "meander" also called "meandros" was one of the most important symbols of ancient Greece.
This uneducated embarassment to the profession of journalism is spreading pure disinformation by labelling the ancient Greek meander a Hellenisted Swastika.

jankaas's picture

that is a fair point. it is more than a little worrying to see journalism debasing itself. the NS should now learn from this and do better than this tabloid style BS.
but it has to be said that the Golden Dawn mob are just that, a mob who seem to relish intimidation and violence. no?

Posh Tosh's picture

Are they the people fighting for Greek jobs for Greek people?

Like the Spaniards are fighting for Spanish jobs for Spanish people.

Like the Germans prefer West Germans to East Germans to do a job?

Hang on I will go and do a crossword and waste more time ignoring what is happening in Europe. If I do not fill in the Mickey Mouse crossword, well may be a racist - not!

Whitesareamajorityfornow's picture

Very well said, Elina.

If you wonder why so-called 'extremists' like the BNP and the Golden Dawn are continuously crucified by the mainstream media, it is because the MSM too is complicit in the biggest, most concerted and insidious program of genocide in human history.

Organizations like the BBC (Biased Bloody Communists) and the UAF claim to be anti-racist. What they really are is anti-white.

Anti-racist is a code for anti-white.

maircat's picture

Its never the politicians or their stooges in the media that are wrong its always the man in the street who is wrong. More of this is coming to europe, and its all down to the corupt leftwing politicians trained in the Jewish left Frankfurt School idiogly.

maircat's picture

Its never the politicians or their stooges in the media that are wrong its always the man in the street who is wrong. More of this is coming to europe, and its all down to the corupt leftwing politicians trained in the Jewish left Frankfurt School idiogly.

jankaas's picture

"the biggest, most concerted and insidious program of genocide in human history."

wow. that's one way of putting certain events from WWII into perspective.

Darthkuriboh's picture

HAIL GOLDEN DAWN! Hail Victory!

TruthShinesOut's picture

Actually, Golden Dawn is currently polling 14% to 16% in most mainstream national polls.
This useless journalist is either deliberately lying or unable to do basic research.
Support for Golden Dawn has literally DOUBLED in the 5 months since the June 2012 elections!
At this rate of growth Golden Dawn will be the leading political party in Greece in 12 months time!

jankaas's picture

psst, Darth, coming 3rd is not really a victory, so do calm down a bit.

Darthkuriboh's picture

HAIL GOLDEN DAWN! Hail Victory!

Elina's picture

With regard to Golden Dawn, they are of course not "nazists", both in the sense that their ideology is nothing like nazism and also in the sense that they actively rejected the label "nazi"/"fascist", altough by now, 2012 it is probably painfully obvious to most quasi-informed people that labels such as "nazi", "fascist", "racist", "xenophobe" are put on any white organisation that wants to look out for the ethnic interests of their own group. People of European descent that like Golden dawn for example feeding starving own starving people is simply not accepted in a multicultural society. That is "nazism."

For those that actually take the multicultural media serious, I can inform you that nothing or 99% of what the mainstream mulicultural media reports about Golden dawn or any other anti-multiculti organisation, and society in general is accurate. If anti-multiculti parties got into power, these rats would have no job anymore.

For example multicultural media often reports that "Golden dawn attacks immigrants." what they fail to mention is for example that yes, they attack immigrants but they attack racist immigrant thugs that rob old greek men and ladies as they try to go to the store to buy food for themselves, after Golden dawns help has been requsted by the Greek victims. So Golden dawn beating up racist african thugs that rob old Greeks, is translate in multicultural media too : "Neo-nazi Golden dawn ruthlessly attacks refugees."

Another example I see a lot, multicultural media reports "Fascist haters of the Golden dawn racist party attack arab vendors", when the truth is that the vendors were illegal aliens, selling drugs and contrand, and Golden dawns aid was requested by the the local Greek vendors that feared for their lifes and their childrens lives, after the police did nothing.

Or illegal aliens selling drugs at schools, and Greek mothers pleaded with the Police to do something, which they did not, and then they turned to Golden dawn, and Golden dawn threw the drug dealing illegal aliens out. The reaction to this in multicultural media is ofc "Jew killing blood drinking neo-nazi fascist homophobes strike at the innocent and browned skinned."

I mean, these multiculturalists are nothing but lying racist scum. It is the multiculturalist that are genocidal that import millions of third worlds into Greek and Europe, with the sole aim of destroying the native communities, it is the multiculturalist that makes racial laws such as affirmative action with discriminate based on race, but it is ok, as long as the ones being described against are white, then it is called "positive discrimination." It is positive because those hurt by it are white. That is the multicultural defintion of positive, and indeed the aim with their entire ideology. It is the multiculturalist that are neo-nazist by the terms exact defintion, multiculturalist strive for racism and genocide, they banned peoples views, even the poll here suggest that Golden dawn is "nazi" and that "nazist"(meaning white people who do not want to become a minority in their own country) should be imprisoned. Multiculturalist support EU, Which is a political units which leaders are not elected by the people, thus un-democratic and dictatorial, it also imprisons people for their views, and tries to control every aspect of society, thus making it totalitarian. A totalitatrian multicultural dictatorship.

To sum this section up. If you are white, and you listen and believe in multicultural media, you are like a jew during 1930's Germany listening and beliving in nazi media.

There is a Marxist policy of population replacement all across Europe, many cities now resemble the third world, where the indigenous population are being pushed out and replaced by foreigners, mostly third world people, this policy is celebrated by politicians and any dissenters are arrested and charged with so called hate crimes.

The reality of the failure of these artificially created societies is kept from the people through a complicit media and state and media intimidation of truth tellers, although the internet has woken up many people. It’s the indigenous population that face persecution, inequality, oppression, and left wing hate and tyranny. Many immigrants know their elevated status and take full advantage of it, rubbing it in the noses of the indigenous population, which causes greater anger and resentment and a deeper fracturing of society.

These Marxist do not hide their genocide agenda, one very senior front bench politician of the last far left Labour administration in the UK stated that ‘the British as a race aren’t worth saving’. Others stating that they have no problem with there being no indigenous people in Europe in the future, and that is one purpose of mass immigration, there are many others.

Golden Dawn know all this full well and are fighting to secure their nation for their people, demonising them with the old tired and desperate Nazi and fascist label doesn’t wash anymore, they’re fighting for the continued existence of their people, identity, heritage, and culture, and doing so the only way they can because they know their political parties do not serve them, to hate them for doing this makes you the racist and a supporter of genocide.

Also regarding this ridiculous anti-gay spat, Golden dawn is not anti-gay for reacting when anti-christian leftists attack christianity.
Would multiculturalists stand up and support the degrading of Judaism in the same manner they support the degradation of Christianity? If the theaterplay showed Muhammed as being gay, to provoke muslims, would leftists support it? I can assure you the anti-white anti-christian multiculti cadrè would not. In fact if there was a play about degrading Islam or Judaism, "anti-fascist"(The actual fascists) would probably be attacking the theatre goers with knives and sticks.

Despite the leftist/liberals insistance, people of European descent does not want to become a minority in their own countries. If this is not obvious then :

White american minority 2042 -US census bureau.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/aug/15/population.race

Ethnic british minority 2066
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/8142176/White-Britons...

73% of ethnic british would be unhappy if UK turned into a white minority state.
http://www.migrationwatchuk.org/excel/YouGov-Poll-Restricting-NonEC-Mig3... -Yougov

The majority of British veterans says they would not have fought in ww2 if they knew the multiculturalists would take over.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1229643/This-isnt-Britain-fought...

"The English as a race are not worth saving'" -Jack Straw

Labour party admits the aim with mass-immigraiton was the destruction of the British ethnic community.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/6418456/Labour-want...

Simos's picture

Dear friend,
Allow me to make a comment on your reply.
Golden Dawn is not just another far-right group. It is a Nazi organization. This is a crucial distinction and it cannot be stressed enough. They are not just worse. They are qualitatively different. Although they share the same rhetoric with LAOS (LAOS' s rhetoric was actually more modest) and their ideologies at least partly overlap, Golden Dawn moves well beyond the mere rhetoric, organizing and mobilizing its members on the street level.
About an hour ago, for example, the actors and the director of a theatrical play which the Nazis did not approve, had to be protected by the police in order to leave the theater safely as a crowd of Golden Dawn members and supporters had gathered outside the theater swearing, throwing objects, threatening the actors while at the same time they were chanting ecclesiastical hymns.
Plus that jumping from 0.2% to 11+ (and the trend suggests that they might climb even higher) is not just a huge leap it is an inflationary expansion which, as another friend correctly observes, we have not seen for decades.
The omens are not very good...

Englishman14's picture

It's all very well whining about Golden Dawn, but please tell me, who else will get rid of the unwanted immigrants?

jankaas's picture

certainly not spineless weaklings like you i would wager.

Jon S's picture

I doubt someone who has convinced themselves to vote for the BNP or FN has to take much a leap to vote for self-branded Nazis, to be honest. Particularly in a situation like Greece is experiencing. If you don't listen when someone tells you the BNP are fascists...

It's difficult to know what you mean by "at the same stage" - at the same stage of what? What are we comparing it to? Fascist parties don't necessarily rise at a linear, pre-defined rate.

But yes, Golden Dawn's impact is more than electoral, and their street thugs are more of a worry than their MPs - that, I should have dwelled on more in the piece.

Unrepentant's picture

This is a very naive and historically ignorant article. Golden Dawn are experiencing more rapid growth than the actual Nazi party experienced at the same stage.

This isn't the French FN, UKIP or even the BNP - these guys are out and pride neo-Nazis. The greatest breakthrough for such a party since the 1930s.

The article fails to consider the reality and impact of Golden Dawn on the streets. They are out there now. Its real and its happening - now.

Oh, and they're up to 11.5% now too.

Jon S's picture

Simos - totally accepted about how bad Golden Dawn are, I hope I didn't give the impression that they weren't worse than other far right groups - that's what I was trying to do in the eighth paragraph.

I think one thing I should probably have stressed more heavily is that while Golden Dawn haven't necessarily made huge leaps in terms of mass electoral success, they are strategically well placed in police and civil society to do serious damage. They can still make life hell without necessarily being too strong at the ballot box.

Simos's picture

Dear sir,
a few remarks on your article:
Golden Dawn is not a far-right party as you describe it. They are more than that. They are a nazi organization which came to the fore as an unmistakable sign of the multilevel bankruptcy the country is suffering. Though they appear to operate under the guise of a legitimate political party, out in the streets a very different story unfolds every day and night. Terrorizing whole neighborhoods, attacking and injuring people, openly threatening everyone who is different, who has a different view.
"Golden Dawn in the third place" might indeed not capture the full picture but is is a big deal. First their national percentage only three years ago was something like o,2%. Now, it appears to be more than 9%. Well,we all can do the math here. Second, as you know, the Greek political system is mainly a bipartisan one. The third party (usually that was the Communist Party) was a)trailing the two leading parties from a great distance and b) very rarely (if ever) had it achieved such a high percentage.
With the situation so unstable, their percentages so high, their distance from the leading parties diminishing, they feel that they can set the agenda and they do so in the most vulgar and hideous way.
The government unable to do anything and probably unwilling too (at least some members of it have found in Golden Dawn the ally they were needing in their fight against the Left - no matter they will never admit it.) is dancing at their tunes.
The role of the police, of the media, of the church, the support they enjoy from a part of the population (let's not forget that), etc., are all important aspects of the phenomenon which cannot of course be discussed here.
We are in a "terra incognita" type of situation here and there is no such thing as overestimating the danger. Things might not be decided yet but the moment is critical. Not just for Greece, but for Europe as a whole.
Thank you for your time and space

Keir's picture

The party is only third because of the collapse of others around it.

should read:

The party is third only because of the collapse of others around it.

Latest tweets