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Niki (Greek political party)

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Democratic Patriotic Movement “Niki”
Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα “Νίκη”
AbbreviationNIKI (Victory)
LeaderDimitris Natsios
FounderDimitris Natsios
Founded17 June 2019 (2019-06-17)
HeadquartersThessaloniki
Youth wingNIKI Youth[1]
Ideology
Political positionFar-right[13]
ReligionGreek Orthodox Church
Colours  Ochre
  Light blue
Hellenic Parliament
10 / 300
European Parliament
1 / 21
Website
nikh.gr

The Democratic Patriotic Movement “Niki" (Greek: Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα “Νίκη”, romanizedDimokratikó Patriotikó Kínima “Níki”),[14] often shortened to simply Niki (Victory), is a far-right political party in Greece. It was founded by educator Dimitris Natsios in 2019.[15] In the parliamentary elections of June 2023, the party received a percentage of 3.70%, electing 10 deputies to the Hellenic Parliament in which today, it forms the 7th Parliamentary Group.[16]

The party is regarded as nationalist, ultraconservative, and supportive of the Greek Orthodox Church.[17] Its primary ideology is encapsulated in the triptych "Faith - Homeland - Family," a variant of the "Homeland - Religion - Family" (Patris - Thriskeia - Oikogeneia) slogan, a long-standing political identity of Greek nationalists.[18] Most analysts agree that with the emergence of Niki, Greek Solution and the Spartans, the far-right has reappeared on the country's political scene.[19][20][21] This marks the first time since 1974 that three distinctly far-right parties are represented in the national parliament.[22]

History[edit]

The party was founded by the public education teacher and theologian Dimitris Natsios on 17 June 2019 in Thessaloniki, after the signing of the Prespa Agreement and one month before the 2019 parliamentary elections, in which he did not participate.[23] He emerged in the polls shortly before the May 2023 elections.[24][25] In the elections of June 2023, it collected 192,154 votes, i.e. 3.7% and entered the Greek Parliament with 10 seats.[26] He gathered the largest percentages in Northern Greece and specifically in Macedonia.[27]

In the European elections of June 2024 it gathered a percentage of 4.42% and elected an MEP, Nikos Anadiotis, to the European Parliament. It formed the 6th Parliamentary Group of Greece in the European Parliament.[28]

Niki is said to receive support from the monasteries of Mount Athos and Christian Orthodox brotherhoods,[29][30] however the Philotheou Monastery and the Karakallos Monastery publicly denied the reports.[31][32] Archbishop Hieronymos expressed his opposition to the instrumentalization of faith,[33] and Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis referred to the intervention of ecclesiastical circles in favor of parties.[34]

Ideology and positions[edit]

Niki has been described as a party that belongs to the far-right with ultra-Orthodox beliefs and have been described as "ultra-religious"[35][36][37][38]and as religious-nationalist.[38] It is often described as conservative with faith, homeland and family as the main axes,[39] however the party president denies the left-right political arc stating that they do not identify with the right, the left or the centre.[40][41] According to the party's manifesto, former politicians, government officials and freemasons are not accepted as party members[25] due to alleged corruption among these groups. The party also demands politicians who have participated in governments that are accused of wasting public money and increasing the public debt to be held accountable in justice, as well as to limit their right to re-election.[42]

The party often refers to characteristics of the Greek nation which it promotes such as language, history and tradition,[43] while it places special emphasis on education, criticizing certain content of school books and prejudicing the writing of new ones.[44][25] It opposes sex education in schools and abortion.[37] The party is against LGBT adoption and marriage.[45] It states its opposition to mandatory medical procedures, such as the vaccination during Covid-19 and questions the safety of these vaccines.[46] [47] The party has endorsed vaccine hesitant views during the COVID-19 pandemic.[46][48][49]

In matters of foreign policy, the party completely rejects the Prespa Agreement.[50] It maintains a neutral attitude towards third countries, believing that the Byzantine imperial heritage, the Orthodox unifying character, can feed an international focus of stability and balance in the Balkan Peninsula.[51] It disagrees with Greece's support for Ukraine regarding Russia's invasion, instead preferring neutrality.[52] The party has been referred to as "pro-Russia".[38] Regarding Greece's relations with Turkey the party takes a hardline approach to their disputes.[vague][46] During the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the party called for peace between the two sides and for the Greek government to advocate for the protection of Orthodox Christians affected by the conflict.[53]

Party structure[edit]

The party is run by two bodies. According to the statute, the main body is the Vouleftirion b (Βουλευτήριον): a seven-member body that ensures the smooth running of the party in accordance with its statutory principles. Members of the Vouleftirion are not subject to the control of the other organs, do not officially represent the party, cannot stand as candidates in elections of any kind and are not paid for their work.[54] Many consider it to function as a conclave of a select few who are not accountable to anyone (it is not known who constitutes the "Vouleftirion", unlike the "Omaikhmia" whose members are known) along the lines of the secret organization of the Filiki Eteria where it was run by an "Invisible Authority.[55] Τhe opacity of the functioning of the body was commented during the June 2023 elections when the "Vouleftirion" decided to replace the candidates chosen by the voters in the May elections with others of its own choice.[56] [57]

The second organ is the Omaichmiaa or Homaichmía (Ομαιχμία or ὁμοαιχμία) : aν 28-member body that represents publicly the views and positions of the party. The "mouth" of Omaichmia is the President of the party. Its members are checked on their integrity, honesty, patriotism and religiosity before appointed.[58]

Political analyst Giorgos Karabelias [el] described the party structure as "an organisational model of a mystical character - the community of believers - which when transferred to society (the papal state in the past, Islamism today) gives rise to totalitarian monstrosities.[59]

Notes[edit]

^a Omaichmia is an ancient greek word means union for battle, defensive alliance, league. [60]

^b senate [61]

Election results[edit]

Hellenic Parliament[edit]

Election Hellenic Parliament Rank Government
Votes % ±pp Seats won
May 2023 172,208 2.92% New
0 / 300
New 6th Extra-parliamentary
Jun 2023 192,239 3.69% +0.77
10 / 300
Increase 10 7th Opposition

European Parliament[edit]

Election European Parliament Rank
Votes % ±pp Seats won
2024 174,574 4.4% New
1 / 21
Increase1 6th

Notes[edit]

^a Omaichmia is an ancient greek word means union for battle, defensive alliance, league. [60]

^b senate [61]

References[edit]

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  60. ^ a b https://www.lsj.gr/wiki/%E1%BD%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%BC%CE%AF%CE%B1
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