Niki (Greek political party)
Democratic Patriotic Movement “Niki” Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα “Νίκη” | |
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Abbreviation | NIKI (Victory) |
Leader | Dimitris Natsios |
Founder | Dimitris Natsios |
Founded | 17 June 2019 |
Headquarters | Thessaloniki |
Youth wing | NIKI Youth[1] |
Ideology | |
Political position | Far-right[10] |
Religion | Greek Orthodox Church |
Colours | Ochre Light blue |
Hellenic Parliament | 10 / 300 |
European Parliament | 1 / 21 |
Website | |
nikh | |
The Democratic Patriotic Movement “Niki" (Greek: Δημοκρατικό Πατριωτικό Κίνημα “Νίκη”, romanized: Dimokratikó Patriotikó Kínima “Níki”),[11] often shortened to simply Niki (Victory), is a Greek political party in the conservative space. It was founded by educator Dimitris Natsios in 2019.[12]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.[13]
Its main programmatic positions are defined as the triptych "Faith, Homeland, Family",[14] the radical restructuring and improvement of education, the change of the regime for the acquisition of Greek citizenship by immigrants and refugees, the adoption of measures to solve the demographic problem , such as supporting large families and the traditional family.[15][16]
History
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.[17] He emerged in the polls shortly before the May 2023 elections.[18][19] In the elections of June 2023, it collected 192,154 votes, i.e. 3.7% and entered the Greek Parliament with 10 seats.[20] He gathered the largest percentages in Northern Greece and specifically in Macedonia.[21]
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.[22]
Niki is said to receive support from the monasteries of Mount Athos and Christian Orthodox brotherhoods,[23][24] however the Philotheou Monastery and the Karakallos Monastery publicly denied the reports.[25][26] Archbishop Hieronymos expressed his opposition to the instrumentalization of faith,[27] and Metropolitan Anthimos of Alexandroupolis referred to the intervention of ecclesiastical circles in favor of parties.[28]
Ideology and positions
Victory has been described as a party that belongs to the broader space of the far-right[29] with Orthodox beliefs and that have been described as "ultra-religious".[30][31][32] It is often described as conservative with faith, homeland and family as the main axes,[33] however the party president denies the left-right political arc stating that they do not identify with the right, the left or the centre.[34][35] According to the party's manifesto, former politicians, government officials and freemasons are not accepted as party members[19] due to evident 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.[36]
The party refers to characteristics of the Greek nation which it promotes such as language, history and tradition,[37] while it places special emphasis on education, criticizing certain content of school books and prejudicing the writing of new ones.[38][19] It opposes sex education in schools and abortions.[31] The party takes a negative stance on the issue of LGBT adoption and marriage.[39] It states its opposition to certain medical procedures, such as the vaccination during Covid-19 and questioning the safety of these vaccines.[40] [41] The party has endorsed vaccine hesitant views during the COVID-19 pandemic.[40][42][43]
In matters of foreign policy, the party completely rejects the Prespa Agreement.[44] 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.[45] It disagrees with Greece's support for Ukraine regarding Russia's invasion, instead preferring neutrality.[46] The party has been referred to as "pro-Russia".[32] Regarding Greece's relations with Turkey the party argues that, since Turkey is acting aggressively, Greece should be answering with force.[40]
Party structure
Central bodies
- Omaichmiaa or Homaichmía (Ομαιχμία or ὁμαιχμία) : 28 members of the party who appointed by the body of "Vouleftirion" to represent and publicly express the views and positions of the party, after having verified their integrity of character, their generally honest life, their patriotism, their spirit of cooperation and their experiential orthodox faith.
- President : elected between the members of the "Omaichmia" and is the head of the party.
- Vouleftirion b (Βουλευτήριον) : 7 member executive boby, the main body of the party, which shall ensure the smooth functioning of the party in accordance with its statutory principles. The first five of its seven members elected by a plenary congress, and the remaining two chosen from the first five. "Vouleftirion" has the final say in approving admission of members to the party, in assigning the work of the administration sectors, the local communities, and the general governance of the party. The "Vouleftirion" select one of its members as the "Organizational Coordinator", who convey the decisions of the body to the party organs. The members of "Vouleftirion" shall determine on their own and depending on the circumstances, the dismissal or change of members as they are not subject to control by the other organs. Members of the body shall not officially represent the Party, may not stand as candidates in elections of any kind and shall not be remunerated for their work. It is worth noting that according to an article in the newspaper "To Vima", some clerics attribute to him the characterization of the "invisible authority" according to the standards of the Filiki Eteria[47]
- Thematic Groups: The Thematic Group produce policy thinking in specific matters and develop political positions, which propose for adoption from the party. They are responsible for promoting the party's positions in their sector through articles, broadcasts, participation in conferences and contacts with sectoral peer or thematic institutions. Any member of Niki with relevant thematic expertise can freely join the Groups. According to some websites, this structure seems to be following a different strategy from what the other parties have been used to so far, as it distributes responsibilities to all its members all over Greece and not only in Athens. Niki has today 20 Thematic Groups. [48]
Decentralized Bodies
- Local Communities: are the central organizational unit of the party.The members of the party are organised in Local Communities in every municipality of the country. To become a member of Niki, one must be Greek in origin, or a proven philhellene, over 18 years of age, who has not been deprived of his civil rights and provided that he accepts the declared principles of the party and respects the Greek Orthodox character of the nation state. Members are not accepted who have served in governments or participated in votes in the national parliament or the European Parliament or have been finally convicted for acts contrary to the ethics of the party. Persons who do not accept the Greek Orthodox tradition are also not accepted as members.[49]
- Prefectural Communities consisting of the local communities of the prefecture.
Election results
Hellenic Parliament
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
|
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7th | Opposition |
European Parliament
Election | European Parliament | Rank | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Votes | % | ±pp | Seats won | |||
2024 | 174,574 | 4.4% | New | 1 / 21
|
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6th |
Notes
^a Omaichmia is an ancient greek word means union for battle, defensive alliance, league. [50]
References
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- ^ "Το ακροδεξιό, ομοφοβικό και "ψεκασμένο" αφήγημα του κόμματος "Νίκη"". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ. May 23, 2023.
- ^ "'Very worrying': Three far-right parties enter Greek parliament". Al Jazeera. June 30, 2023.
- ^ "Far-right victories in Greece highlight trend across Europe". NBC News. June 27, 2023.
- ^ "The Far-Right Just Made a Shock Comeback in Greece". Vice News. June 27, 2023.
- ^ "Greek far-right makes vote comeback". France 24. June 27, 2023.
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- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Τα 36 κόμματα που διεκδικούν την ψήφο μας". www.naftemporiki.gr (in Greek). 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Αποτελέσματα εκλογών 2023 | Η ΝΑΥΤΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΗ". www.naftemporiki.gr (in Greek). 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ^ Newsroom (2023-05-22). "ΝΙΚΗ: Ποιο είναι το κόμμα που για λίγες ψήφους δεν μπήκε στη Βουλή". CNN.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
{{cite web}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2024-06-09.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ ΙΝ, Σύνταξη (2023-05-04). "Άρχισαν να παίρνουν μορφή οι "ορφανές" ψήφοι της ακροδεξιάς – Ποιο είναι το κόμμα "Νίκη";". in.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ a b c ΙΝ, Σύνταξη (2023-05-21). "Εκλογές: Ποιο είναι το κόμμα "Νίκη" που παραλίγο να μπει στη Βουλή". in.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ Newsroom. "Τελικά αποτελέσματα εκλογών 2023: ΝΔ 40,55%, ΣΥΡΙΖΑ 17,83%, ΠΑΣΟΚ 11,86% – 8 κόμματα στη Βουλή". www.ieidiseis.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-26.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Το κόμμα Νίκη, η "Ελλάς-Ελλήνων-Χριστιανών" θεωρία τους και η "λίγκα του Βορρά"". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). 2023-05-26. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ Newsroom (2024-06-09). "Αποτελέσματα ευρωεκλογών 2024: Πώς θα δείτε τη σταυροδοσία και ποιοι εκλέγονται ευρωβουλευτές". CNN.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2024-06-09.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Το σκοτεινό δίκτυο της Νίκης – Πώς το κόμμα του θεολόγου από το Κιλκίς έφτασε να διεκδικεί την είσοδό του στη Βουλή" (in Greek). 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 – Ιερά Μονή Φιλοθέου: Δεν έχουμε σχέση με το κόμμα ΝΙΚΗ". NewsIT (in Greek). 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 – Μονή Καρακάλλου: Ανυπόστατα τα δημοσιεύματα για ανάμειξη στις εκλογές και σχέση με το κόμμα «Νίκη»". Newsbeast (in Greek). 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ ΙΝ, Σύνταξη (2023-05-27). ""Ως εδώ»: Παρέμβαση Ιερώνυμου για «εμπλοκή της Εκκλησίας και κληρικών της στα πολιτικά δρώμενα της χώρας"". in.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Μητροπολίτης Αλεξανδρουπόλεως κατά κόμματος "Νίκη": "Εργαλειοποιούν τη θρησκευτική ταυτότητα" | Liberal.gr". www.liberal.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Greece: Far right makes resurgence – DW – 06/30/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "In the most recent election, Greek far right made a sinister comeback". euronews. 2023-07-04. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ a b Fallon, Katy. "'Very worrying': Three far-right parties enter Greek parliament". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ a b Besliu, Raluca (4 June 2024). "How a far-right Greek party is gaining with a 'coalition of voters' ahead of the EP elections". The Parliament Magazine. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
- ^ "Εκλογές: Ποιο είναι το κόμμα «Νίκη» που παραλίγο να μπει στη Βουλή". in.gr (in Greek). 2023-05-21. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 - Δημήτρης Νάτσιος: Θα μπούμε στη Βουλή, δεν είμαστε ούτε Δεξιά, ούτε Αριστερά, ούτε κέντρο". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-22. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Στη Βόρεια Ελλάδα τα «κάστρα» της ΝΙΚΗΣ, παίρνει 10 έδρες – Ποιο είναι το κόμμα του θεολόγου Νατσιού" (in Greek). Prothema. 25 June 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 – Νίκη: Το κόμμα του θεολόγου με τις σχέσεις στο Άγιον Όρος και τις εκκλησιαστικές οργανώσεις". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ Newsroom (2023-05-22). "ΝΙΚΗ: Ποιο είναι το κόμμα που για λίγες ψήφους δεν μπήκε στη Βουλή". CNN.gr (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-06-24.
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has generic name (help) - ^ "Greece's conservatives win election majority to secure second term". POLITICO. 2023-06-25. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ a b c "Το ακροδεξιό, ομοφοβικό και "ψεκασμένο" αφήγημα του κόμματος "Νίκη"". ΤΑ ΝΕΑ (in Greek). 2023-05-23. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2023/07/03/niki-natsios-abortions-purity/
- ^ ""Νίκη": Γεροντάδες του Αγίου Όρους, αντιεμβολιαστές και ρωσοφιλία". HuffPost Greece (in Greek). 2023-05-27. Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ Σουλιώτης, Γιάννης (2023-05-25). "Εκλογές 2023: Η Νίκη, οι μονές και οι αντιεμβολιαστές". Η ΚΑΘΗΜΕΡΙΝΗ (in Greek). Retrieved 2023-07-04.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Δημήτρης Νατσιός, ο θεολόγος που έβαλε τη «Νίκη» στον εκλογικό χάρτη". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 – Νίκη: Το κόμμα του θεολόγου με τις σχέσεις στο Άγιον Όρος και τις εκκλησιαστικές οργανώσεις". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ "Εκλογές 2023 – Νίκη: Το κόμμα του θεολόγου με τις σχέσεις στο Άγιον Όρος και τις εκκλησιαστικές οργανώσεις". ProtoThema (in Greek). 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-06-24.
- ^ Antoniadou, Maria (5 July 2023). "«Αόρατη αρχή» κινεί τα νήματα της «Νίκης» – Η δομή και οι κανόνες ("Invisible principle" pulls the strings of "Niki" - The structure and the rules)".
- ^ "O Νίκος Χατζής υπεύθυνος για την εστίαση με το κόμμα ΝΙΚΗ". 6 September 2023.
- ^ "ΝΙΚΗ – Καταστατικό".
- ^ https://www.lsj.gr/wiki/%E1%BD%81%CE%BC%CE%B1%CE%B9%CF%87%CE%BC%CE%AF%CE%B1
- ^ "Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, an Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon, βουλευτήριον".
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