ATHENS – Ilias Kasidiaris, the former spokesman for the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, who was jailed with its hierarchy and dozens of members after being convicted of running a criminal gang, is appealing a Supreme Court ruling that prohibits his political group, the National Party-Hellenes, from running in the May 21 elections.

Kasidiaris initially had his party barred by Parliament after it approved a measure to prohibit parties led by anyone convicted of a serious crime. This decision was upheld by the Supreme Court. He plans to submit an appeal to the European courts and the Supreme Special Court, according to the state-run Athens-Macedonia News Agency ANA.

Kasidiaris accused Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ regime of destroying democracy and violating civil rights by forbidding citizens from voting for the party of their choice. He also claimed that the decision was essentially useless given that a second round of elections is almost certain in July due to a change in electoral law that makes it virtually impossible for a first-place finisher to win enough seats in Parliament to form a government.

He believes that a second ballot, if his party is allowed to run, will result in high election returns and will punish the corrupt political system. However, his party is only polling at 3%, which is the bare minimum needed to win a few seats.