PM Mitsotakis appeals to all democratic forces to erect a barrier to Golden Dawn

Talking to local residents in Evosmos, Thessaloniki on Monday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appealed to all democratic forces to agree and vote in favour of a measure being tabled by the government in Parliament tomorrow, in order to erect a barrier to the criminal organisation 'Golden Dawn', which he said is seeking to participate in the elections behind a "thin veil".

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"We are bringing a new amendment that ... should, under normal conditions, unite all the democratic forces" the prime minister said. "Tomorrow in parliament everyone will assume their responsibilities. Those that do not vote for this amendment are the same people... that want this formation to somehow end up in parliament," Mitsotakis asserted.

"So I appeal to all the democratic forces, tomorrow, the last day of operation of this parliament before it is dissolved, to finally agree and put aside any differences and understand that this matter is a major issue of democracy. Golden Dawn is a convicted criminal organisation", Mitsotakis concluded.

In an interview later on Monday with the Thessaloniki-based radio station Status 107.7 FM, Mitsotakis said that main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, through its refusal to support legislation designed to bar the entry of far-right Golden Dawn into Parliament, "is making a grave mistake". The party's actions "make it appear as though it does not want to achieve that which we all want, which is to bar Golden Dawn from any possibility of participating in the elections," he added.

According to Mitsotakis, meanwhile, it was "not the first time that eclectic relations have been detected between SYRIZA and Golden Dawn".

Asked whether he would agree to a televised debate proposed by SYRIZA-PA leader Alexis Tsipras, Mitsotakis noted that the rules for such debates stipulate the participation of all political party leaders and that he was personally "available for a debate at any time, as provided for by the law, so that the citizens can be fully informed about the positions of the parties".

He also noted that there had been more than 80 discussions in Parliament, adding: "I do not think that the citizens are not aware of my positions or Mr. Tsipras' positions".