Greek Lawmakers Axe Golden Dawn Funding

ATHENS (AP) ? Greek lawmakers voted late on Oct. 22 to suspend state funding for political parties accused of criminal activities, a measure targeting the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn group. The proposal was backed by the conservative-led governing coalition, the main opposition and a small left-wing party ? and was voted 235-0 in the 300-seat assembly. It allows an indefinite funding freeze for parties whose leadership is charged with involvement in a criminal group, or terrorism. Golden Dawn is under a criminal investigation sparked by last month's fatal stabbing of a Greek rap singer, an attack blamed on a party volunteer. Its leader and two lawmakers have been jailed in pre-trial custody as alleged members of a criminal organization, and another six lawmakers have been stripped of immunity from prosecution to face similar charges. None of the party leadership has been charged with any direct connection to the killing.

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