Greek extremist party member in TV assault

Elena Becatoros - Associated Press

The spokesman for Greece's extremist far-right Golden Dawn party caused an uproar Thursday after he physically assaulted two left-wing deputies on live television during a morning political show. A public prosecutor ordered his immediate arrest.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's heated election campaign turned ugly Thursday on live TV: The spokesman of the extreme-right Golden Dawn party, after trading insults of "commie" and "fascist," lunged at two female left-wing politicians on a mainstream morning talk show, throwing water at one and smacking the other three times across the face.

The violent display reminiscent of Jerry Springer trash TV, a week and a half ahead of crucial repeat elections, stunned Greeks as they seek to avoid a catastrophic exit from the common euro currency. Prosecutors immediately issued an arrest warrant for Ilias Kasidiaris, whose party alarmed Europe by gaining 21 of Parliament's 300 seats in Greece's inconclusive May 6 elections.

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June 07, 2012

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1. Argyrakis VAN wrote on June 07, 2012 10:41 AM	This video is all over the internet. What an embarrassment for the Greek political system and democracy. A very sad day indeed.

2. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 07, 2012 11:29 AM	Bread and circuses. I'm far more embarassed by the Greek Left's response in the streets-riots, fires, attacking police. The Greek media apparently have NO problem with that, but make a big deal out of this nitwit. Once more selective ethics, marginalizing the far-right party while giving the far-left a bye. It's what brought Greece to where it is today.

3. Constantinos E. Scaros wrote on June 10, 2012 3:36 PM	You are both correct. Evan, it is sad but true that folks from all around the world will look at the video and will wonder why the Ancient Greeks called everyone else "barbarians," when the Modern Greeks are, in fact, the barbarians. Philip, it is also sad and true that often times, the biggest outrage gets all the attention, while the second-biggest outrage safely sails under the radar.

4. Philip Vorgias wrote on June 10, 2012 7:53 PM	Not a question of 'sailing under the radar', but of selective media ethics Constantinos. Greece had months and months of far left violent rioting in the street-with ties to parties like SYRIZA. The political connection has hardly been mentioned. But let a Golden Dawn mouth-breather beat up an immigrant on the streets and the Greek media is all over it like flies on sh--. It's a MAIN reason that Greece is far to the left of most other western nations, the Greek media's skewed reporting of events.
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Wednesday, June 19, 2013 Last Update: 4:19 PM ET