Ilias Kasidiaris signals political return via new far-right party

Ilias Kasidiaris, a former leader of the Golden Dawn party convicted of directing a criminal organization, has signaled a political return following his early release from prison. Although legally barred from running for office until 2033, Kasidiaris is leveraging a significant social media presence, including 162,000 YouTube subscribers, to maintain political influence.

Kasidiaris has endorsed a new far-right political entity, the Alliance of Greeks. The party has submitted its charter to the Supreme Court of Greece to seek legal approval for electoral participation ahead of the 2027 national elections.

His release has triggered a surge of online activity, characterized by AI-generated imagery, music, and TikTok videos promoting his candidacy. Experts have noted the difficulty in distinguishing between organic support and automated accounts in these digital campaigns, which frame his legal history as a struggle against the establishment.