An investigation is under way as to determine whether Golden Dawn is a criminal organization, after an anti-fascist rapper was stabbed to death last month. Three other Golden Dawn MPs have already been jailed, including party leader Nikolaos Michaloliakos who has been charged with leading a criminal organization.

George Germenis, Efstathios Boukouras and Panagiotis Iliopoulos are facing criminal charges. Party spokesman Ilias Kassidiaris, Ilias Panagiotaros and Chrysovalantis Alexopoulos are facing lesser charges.

Of 247 MPs present, all voted in favour of lifting immunity except in the case of Germenis, Iliopoulos and Boukouras, where a single invalid ballot was discovered.  

Golden Dawn abstained from the vote. It holds 18 seats in parliament. Addressing the chamber before the vote, Mr. Kasidiaris called the process “a dissolution of the constitution”.