Ilias Kasiadaris was released from Domokos Prison at noon on Tuesday, having served his sentence following his conviction for participation in the criminal organisation Golden Dawn.

Dozens of his supporters were waiting for Ilias Kasiadaris, who emerged from the prison holding a Greek flag in his hands. They embraced him as he walked through the prison gates.

In a statement following his release, Ilias Kasiadaris announced his return to politics, saying: “I had given you a promise that, as soon as I passed through this gate, I would return not only to freedom but also to the front line of the national struggle.”

“I am returning, and I am not alone. With me is a strong national party, like those that dominate across Europe. My aim is to rid the country of the most corrupt government of the post-dictatorship era,” he continued.

As he said: “I see the politicians on television complaining and conspiring, saying that they must not allow me to return to Parliament. In a democracy, however, there is one judge: the sovereign people, you, the thinking Greek citizens.”

Kasiadaris’s lawyer: “My client is already speaking to independent MPs from the Spartans and Niki”

Speaking to Status 107.7, Vasi Pantazi, Ilias Kasiadaris’s lawyer, noted that “Mr Kasiadaris cannot establish a party or hold a founding position in a party; however, he can stand with another political formation”. She clarified: “I am referring to an existing, non-parliamentary political grouping. The independent MPs — not only the former Spartans — will form such a grouping.”

“The people he will work with will share his views and will belong to the conservative right and far right, with the cost-of-living crisis and migration as their main issues,” Ms Pantazi added, referring to “contacts with the Niki party”, while noting that “he is certainly also reaching out to Ms Latinopoulou’s and Mr Velopoulos’s voters”.