They say hate-crime, racism and fascism go hand in hand as a reaction to poverty and joblessness brought on by relentless austerity cuts.

Professor of constitutional law and barrister in the Greek High Court and the Council of State George Katrougalos says austerity policies make citizens poorer, traumatising national identity, bringing people closer to nationalism and eventually, fascism.

Golden Dawn carries out the dirty work for the government, says Happiness Godwin, chief unionist of Greece’s immigrant street traders. Godwin says incidents of racially motivated violence are increasing dramatically against foreign nationals, adding that these are often carried out by Golden Dawn members and affiliates.

Earlier in the week, Golden Dawn spokesman and MP Ilias Kasidiaris was cleared of charges of involvement in the beating and stabbing of a student four years ago.

Mentioning the case, the panel says this court ruling outlines state tolerance of hate crime and the systemic usefulness of Golden Dawn in Greek politics.

Right-wing extremism, racial violence and fascism in Greek society is the result of the financial crisis, say the speakers here, and the Greek Left underestimating the De Facto manifesto professed by Golden Dawn. They say the phenomenon can only be dealt with effectively by the Greek left assuming an ideological role against fascism in Greek society, negating it within a historical framework based on current affairs, class struggle and the labor movement in Greece.