Marine Le Pen, the leader of the nationalist Front National party added fuel to the fire of Greece’s domestic politics by saying that she hoped for a SYRIZA win in Sunday’s national elections.
Specifically Le Pen said to the French daily Le Monde, “There has been a rift created in Europe between the supporters of the European Union and those who resist it. I respect the position of all those who don’t want to follow the rules of Europe and its financial markets. That of course does not make me a supporter of the Left. I disagree with SYRIZA’s program and mainly with regards to immigration. On the other hand I would welcome its victory.”
Le Monde writes that Le Pen is hoping that a SYRIZA win would ultimately support the euro-sceptics throughout Europe. It also notes that in apparently supporting a SYRIZA win Le Pen is attempting to put further distance between her party and the neo-Nazis of Golden Dawn.
Unsurprisingly Le Pen’s comments became immediate fodder in the pre-election campaign.
New Democracy swiftly released a statement writing, “Mr Tsipras found his only ally in Europe in the person of Ms Lepen,” adding, “In Europe everyone knows that Mr Tsipras and his extreme elements will lead our country to isolation. Only he attempts to hide it. Mr Tsipras is the accident which will NOT happen ever in Greece!”
PASOK also intervened, with its spokesperson, Eva Kaili stating, “We hope that SYRIZA will refuse the support of this far right party, avoiding in this way its inclusion in the parties which present a threat to the European Family and the democratic rights of citizens.”
SYRIZA responded to New Democracy by reminding the party of its own far-right elements in the form of Takis Baltakos and Makis Voridis (Voridis, who once established the far right Hellenic Front party, enjoyed a close relationship with Marie Le Pen’s father, Jean-Marie who attended Voridis’s wedding).
“The rise of SYRIZA and the progressive forces in Europe amounts to a buttress against the far right represented by Le Pen, as well as a message in defense of democracy from its enemies. We do not accept instructions from the party of Baltakos and Voridis. Much more when the extreme politics of austerity fuel the rise of the far right.”
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