The Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis was informed in Slovenia, where he is, of the events in the Parliament and by his decision, the MP for East Athens, Konstantinos Bogdanos, is removed from the Parliamentary Group of the New Democracy.
Strong reaction of N. Dendias to reports by K. Bogdanos on the civil war
The strong reaction of the Foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias caused the reports of the member of the Southwest, Konstantinos Bogdanos, about the anti-communism and civil war, during the debate in the House Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee on the Agreement on the Greek-French defence cooperation.
The reports of Mr Bogdanos and the attack he launched against him KKE triggered the climate in the Commission with reactions from MEPs and SYRIZA, with the result that Mr Dendias asked for the floor, saying in a very sharply critical tone:
«On behalf of the government, I want to stress that we are not here to return to the country's bad past, but to discuss the survival of the country and its future. I do not know who attended the event in Vichy. My father was in Vichy. I say today that any attempt to project in contemporary life the painful moments of the country for the purpose of gaining partisan advantage is unacceptable. And siding with Kasidiaris is unacceptable. And over time, laying a wreath with Golden Dawn is unacceptable.. It is time to get serious at this time when the country faces a national threat. And as long as I represent the government as a minister, this kind of effort will never again be tolerated in the Chamber, so that we can all be in agreement. We are not taking stock of the past here.».
Earlier, Mr Bogdanos had argued among others:
«Anti-communism is a liberal choice that is our right. No one can force us to say with joy the Republic of North Macedonia. Why? Because it is our right to talk about the state of Skopje...», Mr.Bogdanos had argued earlier while defending his participation in the event at the Vichy.
«I call on you and the minister to condemn the post-civil war discourse against the KKE,» reacted the Sia Anagnostopoulou referring to a «far-right Bogdanos».
«He seems to be upset that they caught the likes of him, the fascists, and found the space to pour anti-communist poison. We know each other, the place is full of the blood of communists,» the KKE parliamentary representative commented, Thanasis Paphilis. «In addition to the «what a bogdanos what a snitch», there is something worse: the «what Bogdanos what Golden Dawn», he added.
In response, Bogdanos referred to a «grave mistake», arguing that he is totally opposed to anything resembling fascist racist ideology.
The MP of SYRIZA also intervened in the debate, Thodoris Dritsas, noting that «Mr Bogdanos attended a hate event in Vitsi, together with royalists and representatives of Golden Dawn.
«Anyone can be for or against communism. But it is an insult to lay a wreath in the name of Golden Dawn and that the Member does not withdraw or protest. It is as if we are allowing all those processes that incubate the snake's egg to be revived for the umpteenth time», said Mr. Dritsa.
