ATHENS – The jailed former spokesman for the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, Ilias Kasidiaris, will be released to attend the swearing-in of Athens’ City Council – to which he was elected – before expected to be immediately suspended.

Along with other former party officials and dozens of members, he was convicted in 2020 on charges of running a criminal gang and received a 13 ½ year jail sentence but was on the ballot for the municipal elections and won a seat.

His candidacy was approved by the court, despite the felony conviction and long prison sentence, attempts to prevent him from running the election having failed although barred from having a party in national elections.

He requested a leave from the high-security prison to attend the event and reportedly was given permission but regulations will prevent him from taking his seat because of being in prison.

Anti-Fascist groups are expected to protest outside the Kypseli Municipal Market where the event will take place. In 2014 he was also elected while in pre-trial detention and is said to be the de facto leader of the extreme-right Spartiates party in the Parliament.