The murder of left-wing MP Grigoris Lambrakis in Thessaloniki, in the spring of 1963, resulted in the collapse of Konstantinos Karamanlis’ right-wing government. The crime was carried out by a parastatal group that was carrying out an anti-demonstration in the same area in the city, where EDA (United Democratic Left, the third party at the time) was holding a demonstration for peace.
Experts disagree as to whether it was a premeditated crime or the sad, unfortunate result of criminals who had been recruited into the ranks of the Far Right.
Whether it was deliberate or “random”, the crime had an effect on the course of the country. It does not really matter if the so-called thugs were merely instructed to frighten the poor minister and their actions exceeded the possible limits of their instructors. What matters is that an intimidation resulted in blood – and blood flows….
It has been demonstrated time and time again that when blood is spilled, it may ultimately lead to extensive military conflicts. There are witnesses left of what happened in December of 1944.
The limits in the stone throwing of leftist groups that embrace violence against the property of other people may be inconspicuous. If people die in a clash of known far right groups with anti-authoritarian groups, which are also known, then a generalization of conflict will lead to a precipice.
Stavros P. Psycharis
Originally published in the Sunday print edition
