‘One attack too many’

“Enough is enough!” headlines Ta Nea, which writes of “a population in a state of shock” in the wake of the “Golden Dawn crime.” Arguing that the latest atrocity “was one attack too many,” the newspaper points out that the supporters of the party, which is represented by 18 MPs in the Greek parliament, are responsible for numerous acts of violence, most notably against migrants. For Ta Nea

the war against the far right should involve all of the country’s political class, starting with the government, which is preparing a series of laws to exclude Golden Dawn from parliament as quickly as possible. It should also entail a modification of the penal code to include much more severe penalties.

“Revolt now — the monster of Nazism kills,” headlines, for its part, To Ethnos, which publishes a photograph of the alleged murderer, wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the Golden Dawn emblem and accompanied by other party activists. For the left-wing daily, the climate of unprecedented political tension, which has taken hold in the country, is fed by the fact that the government of Antonis Samaras is blaming both the far left and the far right.

The theory of two extremes, which has been voiced by the prime minister on many occasions, is a dangerous one. We are effectively experiencing the most singular tragedy to occur in this country in its history of democratic rule. The rise of fascism is unprecedented.

Usually moderate in tone, the daily I Kathimerini, under the headline “Neo-Nazi’s shocking crime,” goes even further, suggesting that the country

is continuing on a determined march towards chaos. Explosions of violence are now a daily occurrence. In this context, the political character of the crime will relaunch debate on the two extremes which have ushered in a climate of extremely dangerous hostility.