Greek Ecologists
Έλληνες Οικολόγοι
PresidentDimosthenis Vergis
Founded1986
IdeologySocial progressivism
Green politics
Political satire
Website
http://ecologist.gr/

The Greek Ecologists (Greek: Έλληνες Οικολόγοι, romanized: Ellines Ιkoloyi) (previously Union of Ecologists, Greek: Ένωση Οικολόγων, romanized: Enosi Ιkologhon) 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 shown live on Alter Channel. He lost the elections.

In the May 2023 election, the party received only 1 vote.

In the June 2023 election, the party received no votes. [12]

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 5,608 0.10 – as Greek Ecologists
2019 European Parliament 11,511 0.20 – as Greek Ecologists
2019 Parliament 0 0.00 – as Greek Ecologists
May 2023 Parliament 1 0.00 – as Greek Ecologists
June 2023 Parliament 0 0.00 – as Greek Ecologists

References

  1. ^ "'Ecologist' party head in land-grabbing row". Kathimerini. 2007-11-20. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
  2. ^ Nicholas Paphitis, "Press Watch" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 13 November 1997.
  3. ^ "In brief" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 9 September 1997.
  4. ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
  5. ^ As described and depicted by ABC Television's Dominique Schwartz on the Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, broadcast on 19 September 2000.
  6. ^ As described by the blurb for ABC Television's broadcast of Dominique Schwartz "Foreign Correspondent" programme, Episode 12, Series 10, 19 September 2000.
  7. ^ Ecologist Greens, "Election FAQ" Archived 2008-06-24 at the Wayback Machine, July 2007.
  8. ^ "In brief" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 9 September 1997.
  9. ^ "Εξώδικο του Αρχιεπισκόπου κατά του Δ. Βεργή", Ta Nea, 28 August 1998.
  10. ^ "Political rallies in Athens this week" Archived 2003-03-14 at the Wayback Machine, Athens News, 4 April 2000.
  11. ^ "Δύο ενστάσεις για τις εκλογές", Ta Nea, 12 March 2004.
  12. ^ "Εκλογές 2023: Μηδέν ψήφους πήραν οι «Έλληνες Οικολόγοι»", CNN Greece, 25 June 2023.

External links

Political parties in Greece
Human impact on the environment
Category