Parliamentary question of Golden Dawn MP Elias Panagiotaros on ethnic origin of infants in nurseries

Alert DateOctober 1, 2012 Country: Greece General Type: Racist discourse, Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Anti-migrant/xenophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Education, Political discourse -parties - orgs Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Political Discourse
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin Greek
Perpetrator Gender Male
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number 1
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In early October 2012 (1.10) The Golden Dawn MP Elias Panagiotaros submitted a parliamentary question to the Education Minister asking for the exact figures of foreign infants and children in Municipal nurseries disaggregated per country of origin and in relation to Greek children. [1]
The same day (1.10.2012) the Ministry of interior issued a circular to decentralised regional authorities in order to collect under an extra-urgent procedure the data requested by the golden Dawn MP. After a heated public debate most of Municipalities refused to provide such data. [2]
the Minister answered to the critique that he had already answered on 4/10/2012 in the Parliament and the circular was not relevant. In his press release he clarified that citizenship is not a criterion for accepting infants in nurseries and that according European statistic standards there are 96% Greek, 2% EU and 2% TCN infants in nurseries. He also underlined that he only asked for figures in order to obtain general statistics and so be able to inform the Parliament.  “ We are obliged to show the positive face of Greece even to those children, who happen to be children of illegal immigrants”.
Golden Dawn reacted by saying that they did not ask for specific names and addresses of the foreign children families, but that the data was requested in order to explain why Greek families were excluded by nurseries due to limited posts (selection in Greece occurs through a random draw among beneficiary children, who meet min requirements of income etc.) [3, 4 & 5].

Sources:

  1. Hellenic Parliament, 01.10.2012, Parliamentary Question of Golden Dawn MP Elias Panagiotaros, http://www.hellenicparliament.gr/UserFiles/c0d5184d-7550-4265-8e0b-078e1bc7375a/7743585.pdf, Accessed on 20.10.2012.
  2. To Vima, 02.10.2012, Ministry of Inbterior Circular, http://www.tovima.gr/files/1/2012/10/10/paidakia.jpg, Accessed on 20.10.2012.
  3. To Vima, 10.10.2012, Τον Ηρώδη ζήλεψε ο βουλευτής της Χρυσής Αυγής Ηλίας Παναγιώταρος (Golden Dawn MP Elias Panagiotaros was jealous of Herod), http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=478909, Accessed on 20.10.2012.
  4. Ta Nea, 11.10.2012, Στοιχεία για τα παιδιά αλλοδαπών στους παιδικούς σταθμούς ζήτησε βουλευτής της Χρυσής Αυγής (Golden Dawn MP asked for data on children of foreigners in nurseries), http://www.tanea.gr/ellada/article/?aid=4759141, Accessed on 20.10.2012.
  5. United Reporters, 11.10.2012, Πολιτικό ζήτημα για τα… βρέφη, έθεσε η Χρυσή Αυγή (Political issue for ... babies set by Golden Dawn), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuEEDKa5_-8&feature=player_embedded, Accessed on 20.10.2012.