Golden Dawn flag
Golden Dawn flagReuters

The spokesman for the Greek neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party, Ilias Ksidiaris, is wanted for arrest following a brawl on live television Thursday, Agence France Presse (AFP) reported.

Ilias Ksidiaris threw a glass of water at female MP Rena Douru from the left-wing Syriza party before striking Liana Kanelli, an MP from the communist KKE party.

The argument ensued when Dourou questioned Kasidiaris on an ongoing court case against him for alleged involvement in an armed robbery in 2007, which has been adjourned until next week.

When Kanelli intervened to defend her fellow female MP, throwing a newspaper at the far-right wing spokesman, he called her a “commie”, before standing up, pushing her and hitting her in the face, AFP reported.

Producers of the morning debate reportedly locked him in a room at the TV studio, until the police arrived to investigate the incident. However, prior to their arrival, Ksidiaris broke down the door and escaped, resulting in a warrant for his arrest.

The Golden Dawn Party, known for its anti-Semitic political platform based on expelling foreigners from the country, won 7 percent of the vote, receiving 21 seats in parliament, in the May 6 elections.

The parties, however, were unable to form a coalition government and new elections are scheduled for June 17.

Golden Dawn is expected to poll less favourably in the next round of elections and their critics were quick to denounce the party for the latest televised controversy. 

“We are urging citizens who voted for Golden Dawn to reconsider,” said Fofi Gennimata, a spokeswoman for the Socialist PASOK.

Gennimata asserted that her party’s representatives refused to participate in any television debates with the controversial neo-Nazi party.

Golden Dawn responded to the criticism, defending Ksidiaris and insisting that his actions were justified.

“If anybody wants us to condemn our party fellow over this, indeed unfortunate moment, they should first condemn Kanelli’s attack and slandering,” a statement on the party’s website asserted.

Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos has claimed there were no gas chambers at Auschwitz. He has also suggested laying land mines along the Greek-Turkish border to keep out illegal immigrants.

At the very end of the embedded clip of the Greek televised scuffle, Ksidiaris can be seen throwing the glass of water, as well as striking the MP. 

Earlier this week, two MPs from the party were among six people briefly detained after an attack on a Pakistani immigrant.