Greek Ecologists

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]

Not to be confused with Ecologist Greens or Greens (Greece).
Greek Ecologists
Έλληνες Οικολόγοι
PresidentDimosthenis Vergis
Founded1986
IdeologySocial progressivism
Green politics
Political satire
Website
http://ecologist.gr/

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.
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