GUE/NGL President Gabi Zimmer condemns the horrific murder of dissident Greek musician Pavlos Fyssas.

She said: "We are deeply shocked by this murder and condemn this act in the strongest possible terms. The fact that fascists with links to Golden Dawn are willing to carry out political murder highlights, in the starkest manner, the misanthropic objectives these violent offenders pursue with their open racism and hatred of dissidents and migrants."

She continued: "This disqualifies them from any democratic processes. Therefore, we call on the Greek government to take action via all available legal means against this party, its related groups and the escalating political violence.

"All democratic forces in the EU member states have to commit to the fight against fascist and racist groups and their ideologies. These are no longer marginalised groups. We stand on the side of all people, artists, and activists in resisting xenophobia and racism. We also express our solidarity with refugees and migrants who are more often than not the first victims of this inhuman ideology."

Commenting on the austerity policies in Greece, Zimmer said: "All member state governments and the EU institutions have the political responsibility to acknowledge the consequences of the excessive austerity measures being imposed on Greece. The Greek people need effective and sustainable investment in public structures.

"The brutal and inhuman ideas of Golden Dawn will not improve the situation for Greek people one bit, all they will do is incite hatred, despair and suffering and plunge Greece deeper into crisis."

GUE/NGL Press Contact:

Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08

emily.macintosh@europarl.europa.eu

European United Left / Nordic Green Left

European Parliamentary Group

www.guengl.eu