ELAM (Cyprus) explained

Country:Cyprus
National Popular Front
Abbreviation:ELAM
Greek, Modern (1453-);: ΕΛΑΜ
Colours: Black Blue White
Colorcode:
  1. 000000
Foundation:2008
Leader:Christos Christou
Youth Wing:Youth Front
Womens Wing:Women's Front
Position:Far-right[1] [2]
Europarl:European Conservatives and Reformists
Flag:Flag of ELAM.svg
Headquarters:Nicosia, Cyprus
Seats1 Title:House of Representatives
Seats2 Title:European Parliament
Seats3 Title:Municipal Councils

The National People's Front (Greek, Modern (1453-);: Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο (Greek, Modern (1453-);: ΕΛΑΜ), Ethniko Laiko Metopo (ELAM)) is a far-right[3] [4] and ultranationalist political party in Cyprus that was founded in 2008. It has been described as fascist, although this is denied by the party.[5] It describes its ideology as "popular and social nationalism". As of May 2011, it has been approved as a legal political party.[6] [7]

History

2008–2019

Prior to the official formation of the National Popular Front, the organisation existed under the name "Golden Dawn: Cypriot Kernel". The kernel was established in late 2000,[8] and was led by the current ELAM president Christos Christou, who was an active member of the Golden Dawn political party in Greece.[9] [10] The kernel attempted to register as a political party with the same name, but the name was rejected by the state's authorities, resulting in the use of the name "National Popular Front" as an alternative.[11]

The party's 2011 manifesto proclaims that the party promotes a strict anti-federalist line concerning the Cyprus dispute, a zero-toleration anti-immigration policy concerning illegal immigration, a strict Greek-centered public education to counter the "slavery of globalization"; and an energy policy that would take full advantage of Cyprus' exclusive economic zone.[12]

In 2019, The Party submitted a bill seeking to impose a ban on all Muslim headgear in public spaces, including schools.[13]

2020–present

In 2021, ELAM played a major role in having Annita Demetriou placed as Speaker of the House of Representatives.[14] [15]

The party's MPs walked out on a parliamentary moment of silence for the more than 500 dead refugees from the 2023 Messenia migrant boat disaster. The party stated that the moment of silence was "political exploitation" and "The aim is so that society will feel guilty for a crime committed by traffickers."[16]

In June 2023, ELAMs offices in Limassol were attacked by vandals who were later arrested by Cyprus Police.[17] [18] [19]

Lately, ELAM established ties to Brothers of Italy, Vox in Spain, Greek Solution and the European Conservatives and Reformists group.[20] [21]

In the 2024 European Parliament elections, for the first time in its history, ELAM candidate Geadis Geadi won a seat in the European Parliament whilst subsequently taking over as the 3rd largest political party from the Democratic Party (DIKO).[22] [23]

Positions and ideologies

ELAM is a Eurosceptic political party who praises the Greek former prime minister Ioannis Metaxas of the 4th of August Regime.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, ELAM gained support from anti-vaccination groups for criticizing the government for their measures and the refusal of their leader to get vaccinated,[24] even though unlike other parties they did not officially embrace conspiracy theories.

The party condemned the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, noting Hamas’s close relations with Turkey.[25] ELAM advocated neutrality after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, highlighting Western hypocrisy on the Cyprus dispute.[26]

Ideologically, it has been accused of belonging to the neo-fascist or nationalist-revolutionary currents NPD in Germany,[27] [28] the GUD in France and Golden Dawn in Greece.[29]

The party; although accused of being aligned to fascist ideology has categorically refused these claims and has cut ties with Golden Dawn since 2020.[30] [31] [32]

Previous connections with Golden Dawn

ELAM had been openly connected with Greek far-right political party Golden Dawn, which it described in the past as a "brother movement".[6] Members and supporters of ELAM celebrated in the streets after the Greek legislative electoral results of May 2012, which gave Golden Dawn representation in the Greek parliament for the first time.[6] [33] The party officially congratulated the leader of Golden Dawn, Nikolaos Michaloliakos, for their electoral success.[34] [35] ELAM's anti-occupation march against the ongoing Turkish occupation that was held on 20 July 2012 at Ledra Palace was also attended by Golden Dawn MP Polibios Zisimopoulos, who was invited by ELAM and gave a speech concerning the Greek economic crisis and the Turkish occupation of Cyprus.[36] In late December of 2012, ELAM announced its candidate Georgios Charalambous; for the upcoming presidential elections; in the presence of two notable members of Golden Dawn, Giannis Lagos and Ilias Kasidiaris.[37] It was reported that in the presentation Ilias Kasidiaris stated that "ELAM and Golden Dawn are not simply brother parties" and that "ELAM is the Golden Dawn of Cyprus".[38]

In October 2013 Greek Golden Dawn MPs Ilias Kasidiaris and Artemis Matheopoulos stated that ELAM is being financed by Golden Dawn.[39] [40] In June 2020, ELAM explained it had officially cut ties with Golden Dawn, after the party lost their parliamentary representation in the 2019 election.[41] Its leader, Christos Christou, cited that the party was following its own strategy, acting independently.[41] Media such as The Guardian or state-owned Turkish TRT World still describe the party as linked to Golden Dawn and as neo-Nazis.[42] [43] Some linked this decision to the investigations of the murder of Pavlos Fyssas and the closure of Golden Dawn in 2020[28] [21] [24] and stated that their core policies did not change.[28] [24]

ELAM and political violence

The party has been the subject of controversy in the Cypriot media and the broader political scene. It has been repeatedly accused of promoting racism and being involved in acts of violence. In July 2010, it was reported that after the condemnation ceremonies against the Turkish invasion of 1974 on 20 July, people with ELAM T-shirts attacked a Nigerian man in Makariou street in Nicosia.[44] On 19 March 2011, eyewitnesses reported that members of ELAM beat up a lottery seller in Lidras street in Nicosia after a disagreement in political views.[45] Furthermore, it was reported that eight ELAM members, one of which ranked as a second lieutenant in the Cypriot National Guard, were arrested by the police in connection to an attack against university students during the student elections of the University of Nicosia on 6 December 2011.[46] In addition, local newspaper Haravgi reported that on 11 May 2012, a second lieutenant was found training ELAM members in shooting mortars in a National Guard's shooting ground.[47] [48] [49] The Ministry of Defense confirmed that an officer had been charged for calling a non-authorized person for shooting in a shooting ground, but specified that it was a rifle shooting. The Ministry made no comment on possible political connections to the incident.[50]

On 26 March 2014, ELAM members attempted to interrupt and stop a reunification conference in Limassol, in which one of the speakers was the Turkish Cypriot politician Mehmet Ali Talat.[51] It was reported that members of ELAM broke through the police lines, broke a window and threw a flare in the conference hall,[52] while a Turkish Cypriot journalist was slightly injured.[53] ELAM was protesting against the presence of Mehmet Ali Talat in the conference, calling him a "war criminal".

ELAM has officially opposed its association with the incidents mentioned, stating that no ELAM members have been convicted for the specific crimes that its members have been accused of. It further accused the media and other organisations for intentionally connecting the movement with the incidents, in order to damage its public image.[54] [55]

Electoral results

ElectionRound 1CandidateWin
%Rank
2013align=right 3,899align=right 0.884thGeorgios Charalampous
2018align=right 21,846align=right 5.654thChristos Christou
2023align=right 23,988align=right 6.044thChristos Christou
ElectionVotesSeats
%Rank±
2011align=right 4,354align=right 1.17thnew
2016align=right 13,041align=right 3.78th 2
2021align=right 24,255align=right 6.84th 2
ElectionVotesSeats
%Rank±
2009align=right 663align=right 0.29thnew
2014align=right 6,957align=right 2.77th 0
2019align=right 23,167align=right 8.35th 0
2024align=right 41,215align=right 11.24th (3rd Political Party) 1

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Cyprus. Wolfram. Nordsieck. Parties and Elections in Europe. 2016.
  2. Katsourides . Yiannos . Determinants of extreme right reappearance in Cyprus: The National Popular Front (ELAM), Golden Dawn's sister party . South European Society and Politics . 18 . 4 . 567–589 . 10.1080/13608746.2013.798893 . December 2013 . 153418352 .
  3. Web site: Samaras. Georgios. Cyprus: what is Elam, the far-right nationalist party seeking success after the demise of Golden Dawn?. 2021-08-07. The Conversation. 6 August 2021 . en.
  4. Web site: Nikolaos . Prakas . February 5, 2023 . Slight rise for far-right Elam . 2023-02-07 . Cyprus Mail . en-GB.
  5. ELAM has often been described as neo-fascist:
    • Book: Ruth Wodak . Politik mit der Angst . Satzweiss.com . 9783902968616 . Europäische rechtspopulistische und rechtsextreme Parteien und Bewegungen.
    • News: Britta Schellenberg . 28 October 2018 . Rechtspopulismus im europäischen Vergleich – Kernelemente und Unterschiede . 6 October 2023 . . Ihre Einordnung als rechtsextremistisch und neofaschistisch bzw. neonazistisch ist laut dem Direktor des Prometheus Research Institute an der Universität Zypern, Yiannos Katsourides, unumstritten..
    • News: Lenz Jacobsen . 30 March 2013 . Zyperns Goldene Morgenröte marschiert . 6 October 2023 . . Die Elam ist die neue radikale Rechte auf der Krisen-Insel: nationalsozialistisch, rassistisch und neo-nazistisch..
    • News: Klaus Hillenbrand . 3 September 2023 . Rechte Gewalt auf Zypern: Rechtsradikale greifen Migranten an . 6 October 2023 . . Viele Zyprioten machen die neonazistische Partei Elam (Nationale Volksfront), eine Schwesterorganisation der verbotenen griechischen Partei „Goldene Morgenröte“, für die Eskalation der Gewalt verantwortlich..
  6. Web site: ELAM seeks to echo Golden Dawn's success: Will Greek vote boost nationalism in Cyprus? . International Coordinating Committee "Justice for Cyprus" (PSEKA). 2012-05-13 . news.pseka.net . 26 November 2013 .
  7. Web site: O Γενικός Εισαγγελέας ξεκαθάρισε τί εστί κόμμα . Sigma Live. 2 May 2011 . 26 November 2013 .
  8. Web site: Danger from Golden Dawn (Κίνδυνος από τη "Χρυσή Αυγή") . Platform of Greek and Turkish Cypriot Teachers, "United Cyprus" . 8 November 2003 . 28 March 2014.
  9. Web site: ELAM: The Golden Dawn of Cyprus (ΕΛΑΜ: Η Χρυσή Αυγή της Κύπρου) . tvxs.gr . 8 November 2013 . 28 March 2014.
  10. Web site: Cyprus: ELAM, Like Golden Dawn (ΚΥΠΡΟΣ: ΕΛΑΜ ΟΠΩΣ ΧΡΥΣΗ ΑΥΓΗ). Iskra.gr . 5 January 2013 . 28 March 2014.
  11. Web site: Είμαστε η Χρυσή Αυγή της Κύπρου λέει το ΕΛΑΜ. We are the Golden Dawn of Cyprus . . 20 September 2013 . 26 November 2013 .
  12. Web site: 18 March 2011 . Δελτίο Τύπου - Βουλευτικές εκλογές 2011 . Press Release - Parliamentary Elections 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110815204246/http://ethnikolaikometwpo.blogspot.com/2011/03/2011_6364.html . 15 August 2011 . 19 August 2021 . Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο - Ε.ΛΑ.Μ. (ELAM Blog) . el.
  13. Web site: Elam tables bill seeking ban on Muslim headgear in public spaces . Cyprus Mail.
  14. Web site: ΕΛΑΜ για ψήφο στην Αννίτα: Φράξαμε τον δρόμο στο ΑΚΕΛ . 2024-06-01 . ΠΟΛΙΤΗΣ.
  15. Web site: Nέα πρόεδρος της Βουλής η Αννίτα Δημητρίου . 2024-06-01 . Kathimerini.com.cy . el.
  16. Web site: Hazou . Elias . Elam MPs reportedly walked out during minute silence for shipwreck victims . 21 August 2023 . Cyprus Mail. 15 June 2023 .
  17. Web site: 2017-05-06 . Επίθεση και βανδαλισμοί στα γραφεία του ΕΛΑΜ στη Λεμεσό (pics) . 2024-06-01 . cyprustimes.com . el.
  18. Web site: 17 June 2023 . Στόχος βανδαλισμών τα γραφεία του ΕΛΑΜ στη Λευκωσία- Έκλεψαν αντικείμενα .
  19. Web site: Βανδαλισμοί στα γραφεία ΕΛΑΜ: Έστειλαν μηνύματα με συνθήματα οι κουκουλοφόροι AlphaNews.Live . 2024-06-01 . www.alphanews.live . el.
  20. Web site: 27 December 2023 . Ο διπλός στόχος, οι εντατικές διεργασίες και η αλλαγή δεδομένων στο ΕΛΑΜ . 18 January 2024 . Reporter Cyprus . el-CY.
  21. Web site: 22 January 2024 . Cypriot far-right eyes Italian inspiration for political ascent . 3 February 2024 . Phileleftheros.
  22. Web site: 2024-06-10 . Far-right ELAM to join ECR in the EU Parliament . 2024-06-10 . in-cyprus.philenews.com . en-US.
  23. Web site: Presse . AFP-Agence France . Cyprus Sends 24-year-old YouTuber To European Parliament . 2024-06-10 . www.barrons.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: Yiannos Katsourides . Leandros Savvides . 2021 . The Profiteers of Fear? . 3 February 2024 . Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
  25. Web site: Καταδικάζουμε απερίφραστα την επίθεση στο Ισραήλ . 7 October 2023 .
  26. Web site: Γ.Γεάδη: «Ούτε με Ρωσία, ούτε με Ουκρανία - Με τα συμφέροντα του ελληνισμού» . 6 March 2022 .
  27. Web site: Antwort der Bundesregierung auf die Kleine Anfrage der Abgeordneten Sevim Dağdelen, Heike Hänsel, Dr. Dietmar Bartsch, weiterer Abgeordneter und der Fraktion DIE LINKE.. 9 September 2011. German government. 6 October 2023.
  28. Web site: Η σιωπηρή άνοδος του ΕΛΑΜ. Marina Economides. el-CY. 29 January 2024. 3 February 2024. Kathimerini.
  29. Web site: Tristan Berteloot et Jean-Yves Camus . 28 May 2019 . Européennes : tour d'Europe des droites eurosceptiques, populistes et radicales . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210121194856/https://oeilsurlefront.liberation.fr/les-idees/2019/05/21/europeennes-tour-d-europe-des-droites-eurosceptiques-populistes-et-radicales-12_1727407 . 21 January 2021 . 29 May 2023 . Liberation. .
  30. Web site: 2024-03-30 . British govt official attends Elam event . 2024-05-29 . cyprus-mail.com . en . Ties between Elam and Golden Dawn were officially cut in 2020, and Golden Dawn was declared a criminal organisation later that same year following the conclusion of investigations into the murder of left-wing Greek rapper Pavlos Fyssas..
  31. Web site: Σούγλης . Δημήτρης . 2021-11-10 . Φασισμός είναι… . 2024-05-29 . Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο (Ε.ΛΑ.Μ.) . el . Στην Κύπρο έχουμε φασισμό και φασιστικές νοοτροπίες και το Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο (Ε.ΛΑ.Μ), δεν έχει καμία σχέση ή ανάμειξη με αυτά. . In Cyprus we have fascism and fascismic mentality and the National Peoples Front (ELAM), does not have any relationship or mix up with that..
  32. Web site: 2024-04-10 . On holiday with Europe's right-wingers . 2024-05-29 . POLITICO . en-GB . The far right Cypriot party, which once had links to Greece’s now-defunct and outlawed neo-Nazi party, Golden Dawn, was the de facto host of the weekend’s program..
  33. Web site: The Cypriot "Golden Dawn" Excuses Kasidiaris (Η κυπριακή "Χρυσή Αυγή" δικαιολογεί τον Κασιδιάρη) . Lifo.gr. 9 June 2012 . 26 November 2013 .
  34. Web site: Congratulations of ELAM to Golden Dawn (Συγχαρητήρια Ε.ΛΑ.Μ. προς Χρυσή Αυγή) . Sigma Live . 7 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 .
  35. Web site: Congratulations of ELAM towards Golden Dawn (Συγχαρητήρια Ε.ΛΑ.Μ σε Χρυσή Αυγή) . ANT1 . 7 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202223732/http://www.ant1iwo.com/kypros/2012/05/07/sygxarhthria-e-la-m-se-xrysh-aygh/ . 2 December 2013 . dead .
  36. Web site: Anti-occupation event 20/07/2012 - Speech by the Golden Dawn MP (Αντικατοχική 20/07/2012 - Ομιλία από τον βουλευτή της Χρυσής Αυγής) . National Popular Front . 26 July 2012 . 26 November 2013 .
  37. Web site: ELAM announces its candidate . Cyprus Mail . 1 January 2013 . 26 November 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130204143653/http://www.cyprus-mail.com/candidate/elam-announces-its-candidate/20130101 . 4 February 2013 .
  38. Web site: ELAM, as Golden Dawn (ΕΛΑΜ όπως Χρυσή Αυγή) . Prin. 6 January 2013 . 26 November 2013 .
  39. Web site: Revelation: Golden Dawn Finances ELAM! This is what was stated by Kasidiaris and Matheopoulos! (Αποκάλυψη: Η Χρυσή Αυγή χρηματοδοτεί και το ΕΛΑΜ! Αυτό δήλωσαν Κασιδιάρης και Ματθαιόπουλος!) . To Thema. 25 October 2013 . 26 November 2013 .
  40. Web site: AKEL: Golden Dawn Financed ELAM (ΑΚΕΛ: Η Χρυσή Αυγή χρηματοδοτούσε το ΕΛΑΜ) . Sofokleous In . 30 October 2013 . 26 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202224434/http://www.sofokleousin.gr/archives/145831.html . 2 December 2013 . dead .
  41. Web site: O Xρίστου εξηγεί: Γιατί το ΕΛΑΜ διέκοψε τις σχέσεις με την Χρυσή Αυγή (ΒΙΝΤΕΟ). 2020-08-07. AlphaNews.Live. el.
  42. News: Cyprus election: far-right party linked to Greek neo-Nazis doubles vote share . . 30 May 2021 . 21 August 2023 . Smith . Helena .
  43. Web site: Neo-Nazi party doubles vote share in Greek Cypriot elections . . 22 October 2023.
  44. Web site: Racism went out in the Streets (Ο ρατσιμός βγήκε στους δρόμους) . Politis. 2010-07-22 . 26 November 2013 .
  45. Web site: "We are Heating the Egg of the Snake" ("Ζεσταίνουμε το αβγό του φιδιού") . . 2011-03-23 . 26 November 2013 . 2013-12-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202225858/http://www.politis-news.com/cgibin/hweb?-A=206112&-V=articles . dead .
  46. Web site: Eight Suspects, All Members of ELAM for the Attack at the University of Nicosia (Οκτώ ύποπτοι όλοι μέλη του ΕΛΑΜ για την επίθεση στο Πανεπιστήμιο Λευκωσίας) . https://archive.today/20130131182259/http://www.philenews.com/el-gr/Eidiseis-Kypros/22/88581/okto-ypoptoi-oloi-meli-tou-elam . dead . 31 January 2013 . . 9 December 2011 . 26 November 2013 .
  47. Web site: Αξιωματικός της Ε.Φ. φέρεται να εκπαίδευε ΕΛΑΜΙΤΕΣ . Sigma Live. 13 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 .
  48. Web site: Ανθυπίλαρχος εκπαίδευε στα όπλα μέλη του ΕΛΑΜ . iKypros . 13 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131121224808/http://www.ikypros.com/easyconsole.cfm/id/41992 . 2013-11-21 . dead .
  49. Web site: Ανθυπίλαρχος εκπαίδευε στα όπλα μέλη του ΕΛΑΜ . Εμπροσθοφύλακας . 13 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131202222852/http://www.efylakas.com/archives/12703 . 2 December 2013 .
  50. Web site: Επιβεβαιώνει τη "Χ" το Υπουργείο Αμυνας . . 15 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000851/http://www.haravgi.com.cy/site-article-21596-gr.php . 2013-12-03 . dead .
  51. Web site: Far right extremists disrupts reunification event . Cyprus Mail. 26 March 2014 . 26 March 2014 .
  52. Web site: ELAM Members Threw a Lighted Torch at Talat in Limassol (Ελαμίτες έριξαν αναμμένο πυρσό στον Ταλάτ στη Λεμεσό) . Kathimerini. 26 March 2014 . 26 March 2014 .
  53. Web site: Επεισόδια σε εκδήλωση με ομιλητή τον Ταλάτ στη Λεμεσό . Sigma Live. 26 March 2014 . 26 March 2014 .
  54. Web site: "ELAM has no Connection With the Attack at the University" ("Το ΕΛΑΜ δεν έχει καμία σχέση με την επίθεση στο Πανεπιστήμιο") . Sigma Live. 7 December 2011 . 26 November 2013 .
  55. Web site: ELAM:"The article of Haravgi is Slanderus" (Ε.ΛΑ.Μ.:" Συκοφαντικό το δημοσίευμα της Χαραυγής") . Sigma Live. 14 May 2012 . 26 November 2013 .

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