{"id":6211,"date":"2013-03-28T15:59:04","date_gmt":"2013-03-28T21:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=6211"},"modified":"2013-03-28T15:59:04","modified_gmt":"2013-03-28T21:59:04","slug":"greek-neo-nazi-party-calls-for-lauder-boycott","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/greek-neo-nazi-party-calls-for-lauder-boycott\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek neo-Nazi party calls for Lauder boycott"},"content":{"rendered":"

ATHENS, Greece (JTA) — The Greek Golden Dawn party called for a boycott of Estee Lauder cosmetic products after World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder urged Greece to ban the neo-Nazi group.<\/p>\n

Due to the \u201chostile attack on Greek sovereignty, freedom, and interests, Lauder\u2019s cosmetics monopoly Estee Lauder must be boycotted,\u201d said a statement on the website of Golden Dawn\u2019s New York branch.<\/p>\n

Lauder, speaking at a ceremony on March 17 to commemorate the destruction of the historic Jewish community in Thessaloniki by the Nazis, called on Greece to take a tougher stance against Golden Dawn.<\/p>\n

Golden Dawn erupted onto the political scene last year, winning 7 percent of the vote, or 18 seats, in the 300-member Parliament. Recent polls have indicated the party, which runs on a fierce anti-immigrant platform, now has between 14 to 18 percent of the population\u2019s support.<\/p>\n

Jewish and international groups have condemned Golden Dawn as being racist and anti-Semitic.<\/p>\n

Golden Dawn slammed Lauder for interfering in Greek politics.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn institution that is not Greek and does nothing to contribute to Greek well-being is demanding [Greek Prime Minister Antonis] Samaras ban the third largest party, which enjoys up to 18 percent of the electorate’s support, all in the name of liberal democracy nonetheless,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe World Jewish Congress claims to speak on behalf of Greece\u2019s 5,000 Jews. Why does Samaras care more about the opinions of 5,000 over 1 million Greeks, if Greece is truly a democracy?\u201d said the statement<\/p>\n

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