Greece’s Supreme Electoral Court has ruled that the election of three MPs from the far-right Spartans party was invalid due to voter deception, as the party’s de facto leader was Ilias Kasidiaris: a convicted Nazi sympathiser serving a prison sentence for leading a criminal organisation. As a result, Vasilis Stigas, Petros Dimitriadis, and Alexandros Zervas have been stripped of their parliamentary seats.

In its decision, the court accepted legal challenges against the three MPs, annulling their elections. This marks only the second time since the restoration of democracy in Greece that a court has intervened so decisively in the composition of Parliament. It is also the first time the legislature will operate with 297 members, as no replacements will be appointed for the ousted MPs.

The court found that voters had been misled because Kasidiaris – sentenced to multiple years in prison for involvement in a criminal organisation – was the Spartans’ hidden leader and guiding force, despite being legally barred from holding such a role.

Key points from the ruling:

– The election was invalid due to deception, as voters were unaware they were supporting a party secretly led by a convicted criminal.

– This deception applied nationwide, particularly in constituencies where the party won seats.

– Since the violation concerns the entire party, a revote in affected constituencies was deemed unnecessary.

– The court also blocked the next-in-line substitute MP from taking a seat in Thessaloniki B’, given the severity of the violation.

– The vacant seats will not be redistributed to other parties—they will remain empty.

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