Greece suspends state aid to neo-Nazi party

The Greek parliament has adopted a measure suspending state aid to the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, after six of its lawmakers faced charges in a high-profile probe of the group's alleged criminal activities, AFP reports. The measure was adopted by 235 votes out of 300 in the assembly. Members of Golden Dawn called the move "unconstitutional" and abstained from voting, walking out of the chamber after the debate. The measure says state aid is suspended "to a party where the leader... or a tenth of the elected members are under investigation for constituting or participating in a criminal organisation" -- which is the case for Golden Dawn. The Greek parliament voted on cutting funds for the country's third most popular party, with 18 seats in the legislature, after authorities began a crackdown on the far-right group following the killing of an anti-fascist musician by a self-confessed neo-Nazi. Last week the parliament had lifted the legal immunity of the six Golden Dawn lawmakers, paving the way for their prosecution. Court documents have linked Golden Dawn to two murders, three attempted murders and numerous assaults. Witnesses have also testified that senior party members were involved in migrant beatings, extortion and possible arms smuggling. The September 18 murder of hip hop artist Pavlos Fyssas by a Golden Dawn supporter triggered public outrage, putting pressure on Greek authorities to take action against the far-right party. Having long been accused by migrant groups of turning a blind eye, police are now probing a string of violent incidents blamed on the group. Several officers have been arrested in connection with the investigation. Formerly on the fringe of Greek politics, Golden Dawn skyrocketed to popularity by tapping into widespread anger over immigration and austerity reforms in debt-wracked Greece, which is slogging through its sixth year of recession and where youth unemployment stands at 60 percent. Golden Dawn denies all the charges against it, and claims it is the victim of a smear campaign ahead of next year's local elections. Observers say owing to constitutional safeguards designed to protect political freedom, the Golden Dawn lawmakers, including leader Nikos Michaloliakos are unlikely to lose their parliamentary seats even if convicted. Any attempt to ban the party would also be legally complicated, and government officials have already said it would be preferable to expose Golden Dawn's alleged criminal activities to its own voters, rather than make political martyrs out of its leaders.