A Greek far-right politician jailed for co-leading a now-banned political party declared a criminal organization was released from jail on Tuesday (September 15) and signalled a political comeback.

Ilias Kasidiaris, 46, was a spokesperson and lawmaker for Golden Dawn, a far-right party that rose from obscurity to become the third-largest political party at the height of Greece's 2009-2018 debt crisis on an anti-austerity and anti-migration agenda.

In 2020, the neo-Nazi party was declared a criminal group linked to hate crimes, including the killing of an anti-fascist rapper, Pavlos Fyssas. Kasidiaris was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison for being one of its leaders. He was released after serving about six years of his sentence, including credits for prison labour and time spent in custody.

Kasidiaris left Domokos prison in central Greece on Tuesday to cheers from supporters waiting outside waving Greek flags.

Despite Greek law barring parties led by convicted felons from running in elections, Kasidiaris told supporters he plans to launch a party "just like those that dominate throughout Europe" to challenge what he called a corrupt establishment.

Hard-right parties are gaining ground around Europe.

In Germany, thousands of demonstrators rallied in Berlin last week against the rise of the far-right after the Alternative for Germany (AfD), leading in national surveys, surged into first place in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

Kasidiaris, who in 2012 attacked two female politicians during a live TV show, has been outspoken from behind bars, using social media to send political messages to his supporters.

He had in the past founded an ultra-nationalist party, Hellenes, which was banned from the 2023 national elections.

He later publicly endorsed another nationalist party, the Spartans, also barred from the European election ballot while its three lawmakers later lost their parliamentary seats on evidence that Kasidiaris guided the party from jail.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

DOMOKOS, GREECE (SEPTEMBER 15, 2026) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. FAR-RIGHT POLITICIAN ILIAS KASIDIARIS WALKING OUT OF PRISON, AUDIO OF CHEERING BY SUPPORTERS, KASIDIARIS PUNCHING HIS FIST IN THE AIR

2. KASIDIARIS WALKING AMONG CHEERING SUPPORTERS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) FAR RIGHT POLITICIAN, ILIAS KASIDIARIS, SAYING:

“Today I return, and from what I can see I am not alone. A new strong national party is also with me, just like those that dominate throughout Europe. And my goal is to rid the country of the most corrupt government since the transition to democracy.”

4. KASIDIARIS WALKING AMONG SUPPORTERS, SUPPORTERS CHEERING AND TAKING PICTURES

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) FAR RIGHT POLITICIAN, ILIAS KASIDIARIS, SAYING:

“They (politicians) say I should not be allowed to return to parliament. But they don’t decide, in a democracy there is one judge, that Greek people, all of you, the thinking Greek citizens.”

6. KASIDIARIS WALKING THROUGH CROWD, PEOPLE HUGGING HIM AND CHEERING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) FAR RIGHT POLITICIAN, ILIAS KASIDIARIS, SAYING:

“Right now, I am stronger; I am emerging reborn and wiser from this ordeal.”

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GIVING KASIDIARIS FLOWERS, TAKING PICTURES WITH HIM, HUGGING HIM