Golden Dawn spawns clone in case of election ban

The new charter omits controversial articles and ideological notions that could have penal repercussions for the new party. The new party with be called National Dawn and will be activated in the event that Golden Dawn is barred from the electoral process.

The document signed by 206 founding members (most of whom are active Golden Dawn cadres, or members of their families) was tendered to the Supreme Court by Golden Dawn central committee member Michalis Yannogonas. The submission of the document is an effort to gain legitimacy through the Supreme Court as law requires of any party.

The new official party emblem is slightly different than Golden Dawn's with a capital “E” within a circle described by an ancient Greek stylized meander. Real differences are few in substance, but enough to avoid characterizations that may lead to criminal prosecution. The new party, however, still remains centered on a leader.

The new party strongman will no longer be called secretary general, but rather party president, and in article 10 of the charter he is seen as being second to the party congress. In other articles, however this hierarchy becomes murky.

Any reference to immigration and words such as “cells” that refer to Golden Dawn activities have been wiped clean off. Instead in three lines the new charter describes the “ideological principles”: “The National Dawn political party is a movement with a popular character, belief in national independence, the prosperity of our country, meritocracy, social justice, and the ideology of nationalism.”

In contrast, the Golden Dawn charter spoke of a party in the front line against the memorandum and national alteration through millions of illegal immigrants, and the destruction of Greek society “which is being systematically promoted by the parties of the so-called Left.”

The new charter also does away with any reference to the organization of food distribution exclusively for Greeks.