Editorial: An issue of democracy

A string of incidents of far-right violence at professional training schools in the Stavroupolis area of Thessaloniki is exceedingly worrisome.

It appears that the spectre of the social and political far-right is still here and we have a duty to take it into account and not underestimate it.

What is needed even more is for the state to take coordinated action so that this monster can be nipped in the bud and so that the conditions that favour its growth can be eliminated.

The judiciary, the law, and the educational system are just some of the protective shields that the Third Hellenic Republic (post 1974) has at its disposal.

A repetition of the phenomenon and incidents of far-right violence, and indeed in vulnerable and sensitive places such as schools, can lead to the reappearance of neo-Nazi groups that often have political ambitions.

We are well aware of this, but deeply-rooted democratic institutions and the maturity of our political system will not allow such phenomena to take root.

A strong civil society of a European country grounded on dialogue and positive rebirth, on the bicentennial of Greek independence, will celebrate only the contemporary era, and not allow a dark backpedaling.

It is an issue of democracy and the challenge for the state is to prevent every new expression of fascism.

It is a matter of drawing red lines, and that requires decisiveness.