Victory (Greek political party)

Victory (Greek political party). Victory, known in Greek as Νίκη (Níki), is a far-right political party in Greece, founded in June 2019. It is led by Dimitris Natsios, a former member of the Hellenic Parliament for New Democracy, and has positioned itself as a nationalist and Eurosceptic force. The party advocates for a restrictive stance on immigration, Greek cultural preservation, and a renegotiation of Greece's relationship with the European Union.

History

Victory was officially founded on 24 June 2019 by Dimitris Natsios, who had previously served as a MP for the New Democracy party from the Thessaloniki B constituency. The party's formation followed Natsios's departure from New Democracy after internal disagreements, particularly regarding the Prespa Agreement which resolved the name dispute with North Macedonia. It first contested the July 2019 national election, failing to secure parliamentary representation. The party gained increased public attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, criticizing the public health measures of the Mitsotakis government and the European Union. In 2023, it formed a pre-electoral alliance with another far-right party, Elliniki Lysi, though this coalition was short-lived ahead of the June 2023 elections.

Ideology and political positions

Victory's ideology is rooted in Greek nationalism, right-wing populism, and national conservatism. Its core platform emphasizes strict immigration policies, including the complete sealing of borders and the deportation of illegal immigrants, framing this as essential for national security and the preservation of Greek identity. The party is strongly hard Eurosceptic, advocating for Greece's withdrawal from the European Union and a return to the national currency, blaming the Eurozone austerity measures for economic hardship. Other key positions include opposition to the Prespa agreement, staunch support for the Hellenic Armed Forces, and the promotion of Orthodox Christian values within public life, often positioning itself against globalist and liberal influences.

Leadership and structure

The party is centrally led by its founder and president, Dimitris Natsios, a Thessaloniki-based politician and former member of the Hellenic Parliament. The organizational structure includes a central political committee and regional branches across major urban centers like Athens, Thessaloniki, and Patras. Key figures have included former members of New Democracy and the now-defunct LAOS, as well as activists from nationalist circles. While Natsios is the undisputed public face, the party has experienced internal tensions, notably leading to the brief alliance with Elliniki Lysi and subsequent disagreements over electoral strategy.

Electoral performance

Victory has contested national and European elections with limited success, failing to cross the 3% threshold required for entry into the Hellenic Parliament. In the July 2019 election, it received 0.90% of the popular vote. Its performance in the 2019 European Parliament election was similarly marginal. The party saw a slight increase in support during the 2023 national elections, polling around 1.5% in the June vote, which was insufficient for parliamentary seats. Its strongest regional support has been recorded in areas of Central Macedonia and Attica, particularly in neighborhoods significantly affected by migrant flows.

Controversies

The party and its leader have been involved in several controversies, primarily for statements deemed xenophobic and for challenging historical narratives. Dimitris Natsios has repeatedly made inflammatory remarks about immigrants and Muslim communities, leading to accusations of hate speech from political opponents and organizations like the Greek Helsinki Monitor. Victory has also been criticized for its historical revisionism, including downplaying the atrocities of the 1967-1974 junta and expressing admiration for certain figures from that period. In 2022, the European People's Party, with which Victory was briefly affiliated, suspended the party's membership due to its extreme positions on the European Union and immigration.

Category:Political parties in Greece Category:Far-right political parties in Greece Category:National conservative parties in Europe Category:Eurosceptic parties in Greece Category:Political parties established in 2019