The Greek Parliament Ethics Committee has recommended suspending state funding for the Spartiates party.
The decision to suspend funding, supported by a majority, follows a recently enacted Interior Ministry provision that allows suspension of party funding until the courts acquit individuals convicted under Criminal Code Articles 187 and 187A.
The provision stipulates the “suspension of funding for parties and their coalitions that are linked to the commission of the crimes, or in forming and participating in a criminal organization”, as well as the return of funding to the Ministry of Affairs, within one month from the moment, the decision is notified.
Eleven members of the Spartiartates party have been accused of defrauding voters and supporting a convicted criminal organization. Specifically, prosecutors have accused the 11 MPs of collaborating with imprisoned Golden Dawn member Ilias Kasidiaris.
The Spartiates were prohibited from running in the European Parliament elections last spring by a Supreme Court division due to these criminal charges against 11 of the party’s MPs. However, the Spartiates received three sums of €788,067.18, €59,998.58 and €25,898 in election funding for the European elections in which they didn’t participate.
Representatives of the “Spartiates” and “Niki” parties opposed the suspension of the funds.
