As it seems, the rejection by the Areios Pagos of Giotopoulos’s release, the moral instigator of 23 murders, woke up the terrorist-murderers in Thessaloniki. It also seems that New Democracy was considered responsible. That is why New Democracy officials became the targets of the killers.

The left-wing parties SYRIZA, KKE and New Left unequivocally condemned the murderous attack. Yet that is not enough. The democratic left must move from words to action. It should learn from Italy’s left.

Let us remember that terrorism tormented Italy for roughly a decade. But in Italy, the left was democratic and pro-European. The then leader of the Italian Communist Party, Enrico Berlinguer, had made clear in every direction: “Democracy does not negotiate with terrorists.”

In addition, the Italian Communist Party took part in all demonstrations against terrorism, together with the other parties. At the funeral of every police officer who was a victim of terrorism, the entire institutional and political leadership of Italy was present.

This is what parties that want to be called “democratic” do, in words and in deeds. This is what left-wing parties in Greece must know if they want to be called democratic. This is also what the fascistic youth of the left must know.

We should also remember what the SYRIZA government did in one case of terrorism. Specifically, a terrorist organization sent a “letter bomb” to former prime minister Loukas Papademos. The package exploded in his hands, he was injured and transferred to Evangelismos hospital. Mr Papademos was targeted, perhaps because he saved the country from bankruptcy.

The terrorist attack against Mr Papademos took place in May 2017. As is customary in such cases, the government, led by the prime minister and the competent ministers, stands by the victim.

The SYRIZA government was not shaken by the attack. Of course, then prime minister Alexis Tsipras condemned the attack with a tweet. Everyone in the government avoided visiting Mr Papademos. Some who dared to do so did it without publicity. Why this behavior? Perhaps so as not to upset the pro-terrorist wing of SYRIZA. Perhaps for other reasons.

Mr Tsipras, leader of SYRIZA, after the country’s bankruptcy, followed an aggressive, populist and defamatory tactic against his political opponents. Among them was former prime minister Loukas Papademos. As noted, he was the one who saved the country from bankruptcy. It seems that a professor of international standing, prestige and recognition, a former prime minister, was a threat to the left-wing rabble that wanted Greece outside the European Union.

It is known that Mr Tsipras, using Stalinist and Goebbels-like propaganda methods, convinced lumpen economic, political and ideological elements. And when a section of the people becomes a “mass”, it is led and dragged by the leader. Thus, riding the wave of anger and rage of a popular mass, he managed to become prime minister.

The critical question is this: Why does terrorism still exist in Greece, when it has ended across Europe? Because in Greece terrorism has ideological and political cover from the remnants of the left.

Remnants that found shelter in certain left-wing parties and groups. Remnants that ran to the courts as defence witnesses for terrorist-murderers.

Does this bad gathering of the left understand that it tolerates and/or supports killers? Can a leftist who tolerates or abets terrorist-murderers be called a democrat and a progressive? Certainly, it is impossible, foolish and inconceivable.

Some on the left or in SYRIZA may object to what is attributed to them. If they are right, let them clarify their position. Let them expel the pro-terrorists. Let them condemn terrorism not only in words but also in deeds. Let them imitate the Italian Communist Party. Let them march, together with democratic forces, against terrorism. If they do not, they will be guilty and complicit. It is that simple and clear.