GUE/NGL has denounced remarks made by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in which he linked yesterday's Charlie Hebdo attack to internal Greek politics, promoting his government's racist and xenophobic positions.

GUE/NGL MEP Dimitrios Papadimoulis said: “The murderous attack against Charlie Hebdo is an act of barbarism. Solidarity towards the French people, the arrest, and the severe punishment of the criminals are matters of democracy. Efforts to take advantage of this attack and play dirty political games in Greece, using a right-wing agenda, as the Greek Prime Minister does, are disgraceful and sad.”

The group reiterated its solidarity to the families of the victims as well as to the staff of Charlie Hebdo.

GUE/NGL Press Contacts:
Emily Macintosh +32 470 85 05 08
Gay Kavanagh +32 473 84 23 20
European United Left / Nordic Green Left
European Parliamentary Group