Golden Dawn Immunity Lifted

The government passed a vote to cease the immunity of party heads Nikos Michos and Giorgos Germenis, along with lawmakers Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos and Stathis Boukouras. According to international reports, the hearing was characterized as strained. The two Golden Dawn delegates restated their adherence to the right winged party, while Alexopoulos and Boukouras dissociated themselves with it.

Germenis, who remains in pre-trial custody, was allowed to be present during the vote. He designated Justice Minister Haralambos Athanasiou and claimed he would: "...always remember him", according to Kathimerini. Meanwhile, Alexopoulos and Boukouras stated their deplore at participating in Golden Dawn.

According to reports, Boukouras shed tears during the session and claimed he was a "...nationalist, but not a fascist or a Nazi". In March, Alexopoulos exited the the party. He commented that he was never a part of its political council and wanted to dissociate with the group for a long time, but didn't out of fear of retaliation against himself and his family.

Tightened security was administered today in Parliament. Guests were not allowed inside. Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris described the guarded environment as similar to the era of the Greek junta.