ELAM (Cyprus)

ELAM (Ε.ΛΑ.Μ.), the National Popular Front (Greek: Εθνικό Λαϊκό Μέτωπο, Ethniko Laiko Metopo), is a nationalist movement founded in 2008 in the Republic of Cyprus. It describes its ideology as "popular and social nationalism" and promoting Greek nationalism.^[1] The Cyprus Mail describes it as an "extreme right wing party"^[2], as "ultra right-wing".^[3] The Antifascist Initiative uses the words "far right, nationalist and racist organisation" and "neo-Nazi gang".^[4]

Controversy

The movement has been the subject of controversy in the Cypriot media and the broader political scene. It has been repeatedly accused of promoting racism and being involved in acts of violence. In July 2010 it was reported that after the condemnation ceremonies against the Turkish invasion of 1974 in the 20th of July, people with ELAM t-shirts had attacked a Nigerian man in Makariou street in Nicosia. ^{[5] [6]}

On December 28, 2010, the ELAM organized a march against Turkish Cypriots and illegal migrants.^[4]

On the 19th of March in 2011, eyewitnesses reported that members of ELAM beat up a lottery seller in Lidras street in Nicosia after a disagreement in political views but that had never been proved in the court.^{[7] [8]}

However, ELAM has officially opposed its association with the incidents mentioned, noticing that no ELAM member has been convicted for the specific crimes, further accusing the media for intentionally connecting the movement with the beatings. ^[9]

Electoral results

ELAM took part in the parliamentary elections of May 2011 and got 4,354 votes (1.08%).

Programme

Its manifesto proclaims that the movement promotes a strict anti-federalist solution concerning the Cyprus dispute, a zero-toleration anti-immigration policy against illegal immigration, and Hellenistic education. ^[10]

References

1. ^ ELAM's blog
2. ^ Stefanos Evripidou, Protestors storm palace gates, Cyprus Mail, July 13, 2011
3. ^ Poly Pantelides, Election losers pragmatic in the face of defeat, Cyprus Mail, May 25, 2011
4. ^ ^{a b} Antifascist Initiative, Press release condemning the Hate March at Larnaca, KISA, Retrieved 2011-05-16.
5. ^ Greek: Panagiotis Hazapostolou, Ο ρατσιμός βγήκε στους δρόμους ("The racism took to the streets"), Politis, 22 July 2010
6. ^ Racial Violence from ELAM (ΕΛΑΜ). KISA calls for the condemnation and the isolation of the nationalists‐racists, KISA (Movement for Equality, Support, Antiracism), 22 July 2010
7. ^ George Psyllides and Poly Pantelides, ELAM members attack lottery seller, Cyprus Mail, 20 March 2011
8. ^ Greek: Chrysta Ntzani, «Ζεσταίνουμε το αβγό του φιδιού» ("Warm the egg of the snake"), Politis, 23 March 2011
9. ^ Greek: Konstantinos Dimitriou, Απάντηση σε νέο δυσφημιστικό δημοσίευμα του Πολίτη ("Reply to a new defamation of the citizen"), ELAM's blog, 26 March 2011
10. ^ Greek: Δελτίο Τύπου - Βουλευτικές εκλογές 2011 ("Press Release - Parliamentary elections 2011"), ELAM's blog, 18 March 2011