ATHENS, Greece (JTA) –The Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn Party, which won nearly seven percent of the vote in last week’s elections, has had its official website taken down by its host, WordPress.
"This blog has been archived or suspended for a violation of our Terms of Service," said a message from WordPress that replaced the Dawn Party’s homepage.
The web page hosting service bars sites that include "hate content" or "contain threats or incite violence towards individuals or entities."
The extreme-right Golden Dawn Party, whose flag closely resembles the Nazi swastika, received 21 seats in parliament, the first time it passed the threshold to enter the legislative body. It campaigned heavily on an anti-immigrant platform under the slogan "So we can rid this land of filth."
Despite its strong showing, it is not clear how many Golden Dawn members would ultimately end up as lawmakers, as Greece appears headed to fresh elections. A poll published Sunday in the local To Vima newspaper indicated that in a new vote, Golden Dawn support would shrink to less than 4 percent.
Last week’s elections resulted in a fractured parliament as voters protested against the mainstream parties they blame for the country’s financial crisis and for accepting harsh European austerity measures.
Greek President Karolos Papoulias was holding last-ditch effort talks with political leaders on Sunday trying to form a national unity government after the three largest parties failed to assemble a coalition. If the bid fails, the country must hold new elections in June.
Greece’s Jewish community has condemned the rise of Golden Dawn as "a serious blow for Greek democracy."
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
