Kairidis threatened Konstantopoulos with the fate of the Chrissi Avgi deputies

IN Greek Parliament a sharp altercation broke out between a parliamentary representative New Democracy Dimitris Kairidis and party leader “Course of Freedom” Zoe Constantopoulou. The reason was the discussion of proposals PASOK And SYRIZA/New Left on the creation of a preliminary investigative commission in the case OPECPEPE.

The scandal began after Konstantopoulou named Kairidis “denier of the genocide of the Pontic Greeks”. In response, the representative New Democracy called her “a worthy heir to Chrysi Avga” and stated that he said similar things Nikos Michaloliakos, which “ended up in prison”. This was reported, in particular, Kathimerini And HuffPost Greece.

The phrase sounded like this: “Now that you are in the status of an accused, let me defend you. Michaloliakos said all this in 2019 and ended up in prison. You are a worthy successor to Chrysi Avga.”. Formally, this is not a direct threat of prison. But politically the hint turned out to be more than transparent. The Greek parliament again used the old trick: not to argue on the merits, but to nail the opponent to the most toxic symbol.

Reply to Konstantopoulou

Konstantopoulou responded that fascism comes in many forms, including sexism and extreme racism, and accused the government of having in its ranks “Orphans of Chrysi Avga” and Holocaust deniers. The squabble quickly went off topic OPECPEPE to mutual accusations of fascism, racism and the political legacy of the far right.

Kairidis also linked the dispute to the upcoming announcement of a political project Maria Karistianustating that “the original comes”and between “original and imitation” people will choose the original. That is, parliament discussed a preliminary commission on the subsidies scandal, but quickly found itself in political bazaar mode. Greek democracy, as always, knows how to save time: one scandal smoothly turns into three.

Why comparison with “Chrisi Avgi” is dangerous

Chrissi Avgi was recognized by the court as a criminal organization. An appeals court in Athens in 2026 upheld criminal convictions for dozens of members and associates, including the organization’s leadership. This was reported AP.

But that is precisely why comparison with Chrissi Avgi cannot be thrown as a universal club against any inconvenient opponent. A judicially proven criminal organization is one thing. The other is parliamentary criticism, even harsh, unpleasant and politically aggressive. If these things are mixed, then tomorrow any inconvenient voice can be declared not a critic of the authorities, but almost a criminal threat.

This is the most alarming moment in the words Kairidis. Not that he offended Konstantopoulou. In the Greek Parliament grievances have long become part of the regulations, just without a separate article. The problem is different: a representative of the ruling party actually used Michaloliakos’ prison fate as a political warning.

Editorial comment

Trial Chrissi Avgi was one of the most difficult and controversial trials in modern Greece. You can consider the verdict fair, you can argue about the legal construction, you can ask questions about the political context. But turning this process into a convenient boogeyman for parliamentary squabbles is a dangerous practice.

If power begins to hint to opponents: “That’s what those who ended up in prison said”this is no longer just crude polemics. This is a signal that the line between political controversy and criminal stigma is becoming too thin.

And here the question is not one of sympathy for Konstantopoulou or antipathies towards Kairidis. The question is whether the government can respond to accusations with arguments, and by threatening opponents the fate of the leadership Chrissi Avgi. Because when any inconvenient word begins to be equated with “chrysaugism,” this is no longer a fight against fascism, but a very convenient technology of political intimidation.

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