Greek Ecologists
Greek Ecologists Έλληνες Οικολόγοι | |
|---|---|
| President | Dimosthenis Vergis |
| Ideology | Social progressivism Green politics |
| Website | |
| http://www.ecologists.gr/ | |
The Greek Ecologists (Template:Lang-el) (previously Union of Ecologists, Template:Lang-el) is a Greek "fringe"[1] and "bizarre ecological party".[2]
The party's president is Dimosthenis Vergis, a former auto-worker, trade unionist, journalist, and peace activist. Vergis has been described as a "self-styled ecologist"[3] and "a self-styled, modern-day Dionysus – God of wine, revelry and fertility".[4]
Vergis usually deploys naked female party workers in his campaigns and has posed nude for campaign posters and pamphlets, flirting "with any female journalist that comes within groping distance".[5] He supports the legalisation of cannabis[6] and unrestricted nudism.
The Greek Ecologists and its leader are not accepted as a Green party by the Ecologist Greens, which enjoys international recognition as Greece's green party. The Ecologist Greens have condemned Vergis, stating: "The public can be assured that the political culture of Ecologist Greens and the Green movement in general has nothing to do with behaviour that makes a mockery or which, through strange - at least - and disastrous interests (such as abuses, money laundering), has damaged the interest in the environment and the political perspectives of ecology in Greece."[7]
History
In 1997, an Athens prosecutor issued a warrant for Vergis' arrest after his party published a poster in which he appeared nude with a smaller picture of International Association of Athletics Federations president Primo Nebiolo inset near Vergis' genitals.[8]
In August 1998, lawyers representing the Archbishop of Athens successfully went to court to prevent the party using a poster in the municipal elections showing Vergis shaking hands with the archbishop.[9]
During the 2000 general election, in which he openly campaigned with semi-nude models, Vergis was described as a "joker" by deputy labour minister Christos Protopappas.[10]
The party was prohibited from participating in the 2004 general election on the order of the Greek supreme court.[11] Subsequently it was renamed to Greek Ecologists.
In 2009 for the European election the famous trash TV singer Nikos Katelis (well known as Katman) became a candidate for this party. His speech in Kolonaki square was show live on Alter Channel. He lost the elections.
Electoral results
| Results since 1993 (year links to election page) | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Type of Election | Votes | % | Mandates | Notes | |||
| 1993 | Parliament | 5,378 | 0.08 | - | as Union of Ecologists | |||
| 1994 | European Parliament | - | - | - | as Union of Ecologists | |||
| 1996 | Parliament | 19,934 | 0.29 | - | as Union of Ecologists | |||
| 1999 | European Parliament | 30,684 | 0.48 | - | as Union of Ecologists | |||
| 2000 | Parliament | 20,466 | 0.30 | - | as Union of Ecologists | |||
| 2004 | Parliament | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2004 | European Parliament | 32,956 | 0.54 | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| 2007 | Parliament | 1,740 | 0.02 | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| 2009 | European Parliament | 31,188 | 0.61 | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| 2009 | Parliament | 20,019 | 0.29 | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| May 2012 | Parliament | 66 | 0.00 | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| June 2012 | Parliament | - | - | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
| 2014 | European Parliament | - | - | - | as Greek Ecologists | |||
References
- ^ "'Ecologist' party head in land-grabbing row". Kathimerini. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
- ^ Nicholas Paphitis, "Press Watch", Athens News, 13 November 1997.
- ^ "In brief", Athens News, 9 September 1997.
- ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
- ^ As described and depicted by ABC Television's Dominique Schwartz on the Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, broadcast on 19 September 2000.
- ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
- ^ Ecologist Greens, "Election FAQ", July 2007.
- ^ "In brief", Athens News, 9 September 1997.
- ^ "Εξώδικο του Αρχιεπισκόπου κατά του Δ. Βεργή", Ta Nea, 28 August 1998.
- ^ "Political rallies in Athens this week", Athens News, 4 April 2000.
- ^ "Δύο ενστάσεις για τις εκλογές", Ta Nea, 12 March 2004.
External links
- Archive of Party website
