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Ultra-nationalist and admirer of conspiracy theories of all kinds Kyriakos Velopoulos sold everything he could on his own TV show: from tooth paste, wonder remedies against baldness and books to “exclusive copies of Jesus Christ’s handwritten letters.”
The far-right populist is the big surprise in the European elections in Greece. 4.5% of Greeks cast a vote in favor of Velopoulos and his party Elliniki Lysi (Greek Solution) and send him to the European Parliament.
“3 tooth paste and 3 books at 24 euros.”
“Don’t they see that the man who sells remedies against baldness is bald?” asks weekly political magazine To Pontiki.
“Politics is to sell wonder creams against boldness when you have a bold head,” commented a Greek on Twitter.
… και τα ζώα να σε πιστεύουνhttps://t.co/sOvxrEqDJy#βελοπουλος #velopoulos pic.twitter.com/2kPOcxLR9a
— Stratosphere (@stratosph3re) May 27, 2019
Another posted a “picture” showing a meeting by Velopoulos (left!) and party members celebrating the entrance to European parliament.
Πανηγυρική συνεδρίαση για την “#ΕλληνικηΛυση” στα γραφεία του κόμματος σήμερα στις 18:00 #βελοπουλος #Εκλογες_2019 #εκλογες2019 #εκλογες #ekloges #ekloges2019 pic.twitter.com/JWj43JtIOw
— Vlassis Paraschos (@vparasxos) May 27, 2019
The 53-year-old politician did not focus his pre-elections campaign on the remedies and the books he wrote but appealed on the sentiment of Greeks disappointed over Macedonia. He put all his weight on the “national interest” and the Prespes Agreement, the SYRIZA government signed with the Republic of North Macedonia, former FYROM, in summer 2018, and one of the reasons that cost the ruling party the defeat.
Velopoulos seems to know the subject well and took advantage of the voters’ feeling of being betrayed on the Macedonia issue. After all, he had written a book about Alexander the Great…
He was a member of the right nationalist and populist party Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) of Giorgos Karatzaferis but never managed to get elected in the Greek Palriament.
After years of endless efforts, he finally managed to secure a seat in the European Parliament.
Velopoulos seems to have filled the space far-right Golden Dawn has left due to the ongoing trial against several of party MPs and officials but also Independent Greeks who were wiped out in the EU elections and share similar nationalistic/conspiracy theories views as the Elliniki Lysi.
Velopoulos party was established in 2016 and has no representation in the Greek Parliament. This may change though in the upcoming early elections in June.
Worth noting that two of Karatzaferis’ political “orphans” – Georgiadis, Voridis -found a shelter in New Democracy, while the third one chose his own way. After suffering a sound defeat on Sunday where he presented himself as “European Skeptic”, 71-year-old leader of LAOS announced that he withdraws from politics. Unfortunately, his legacy remains alive.
Some mean Greeks claim that Velopoulos will soon introduce Jesus’ letters to the blessed MEPs in the EP.
Ps I confess I have no idea what’s in the mind of some Greek voters, a 5- to 7-percent in every election, who cast their votes for surreal weirdos. Maybe, deep disappointment from the established political parties and lack of knowledge.
The post Ultra-nationalist Velopoulos: From “Jesus’ handwritten letters” to European Parliament appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.
