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{{Infobox political party
| country = Greece
| colorcode = {{party color|Rainbow (Greece)}}
| name = Rainbow
| native_name = Ουράνιο Τόξο
| native_name_lang = el
| logo = Vinozito logo.png
| logo_size = 250px
| leader = Collective leadership (Political Secretariat)<ref>{{cite book |author=Dimitar Bechev |title=Historical Dictionary of North Macedonia |date=2019 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=9781538119624 |page=252}}</ref>
| foundation = 1994
| headquarters = Stephanou Dragoumi 11, 53100, Florina, Greece
| ideology = [[Slavic speakers of Greek Macedonia|Macedonian minority rights]]<br />[[Regionalism (politics)|Regionalism]]
| position =
| international =
| european = None (since 2023) <br> [[European Free Alliance]] (pre-2023)
| colours = [[Rainbow]]
| website = {{URL|http://florina.org|florina.org}}
}}
{{Politics of Greece}}
The '''Rainbow''' ({{langx|el|Ουράνιο Τόξο}}, ''Ouránio Tóxo''; {{langx|mk|Виножито}}, ''Vinožito'') is a [[political party]] in [[Greece]], and a former member of the [[European Free Alliance]]. It is known for its activism amongst what it regards as the [[Minorities in Greece#Slavic-speaking|ethnic Macedonian]] minority in Greece<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.florina.org/rainbow/about_e.asp|title=EFA-Rainbow :: News 2008|last=TJ-Hosting|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> and their descendants abroad. The Rainbow states that it sees the acceptance of the [[Republic of North Macedonia]] in the [[European Union]] with a positive regard.
In the past, it had an alliance with the [[Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece]] (OAKKE). The two
In 2005, the [[European Court of Human Rights]] found the Greek government guilty of violating the [[European Convention on Human Rights]] by restricting party members' [[freedom of assembly]] and failing to provide due process within reasonable time. The Greek government was ordered to pay 35,000 [[euros]] in compensation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61651.htm|title=Greece|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref>
== History ==
The Rainbow party was founded in 1994, succeeding the Macedonian Movement for Balkan Prosperity.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Wilson |editor1-first=Thomas M. |editor2-last=Donnan |editor2-first=Hastings |title=Culture and Power at the Edges of the State: National Support and Subversion in European Border Regions |date=2005 |publisher=LIT Verlag Münster |isbn=978-3-82587-569-5 |page=139}}</ref> The party offices were opened in Florina on 6 September 1995. On 7 September, the offices were broken into and ransacked.<ref>[http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/rainbow-english.pdf Greek Helsinki Monitor & Minority Rights Group- Greece; Greece against its Macedonian minority] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209033640/http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/rainbow-english.pdf |date=2006-12-09 }}</ref> A sign hanging outside the office which had clearly written on it 'ВИНОЖИТО, ΟΥΡΑΝΙΟ ΤΟΞΟ, ЛЕРИНСКИ КОМИТЕТ' (Vinožito, Ouránio Tóxo, Lerinski Komitet). This sign had words "Rainbow Party, Florina Committee" written in both [[Greek language|Greek]] and [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/62/056.html|title=Amnesty International will adopt members of 'Rainbow' party as prisoners of conscience in case of imprisonment|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> This sign was then stolen during the raid.
The sign was replaced. However, on 12 September, priests from the Florina region called on people to join a "demonstration to protest against the enemies of Greece who arbitrarily display signs with anti-Hellenic inscriptions". The statement also called for the “deportation” of those responsible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wcd.coe.int/ViewDoc.jsp?id=927761&Site=COE&BackColorInternet=DBDCF2&BackColorIntranet=FDC864&BackColorLogged=FDC864|title=Directorate of Communications - European Court of Human Rights - Chamber judgment - Ouranio toxo and others v. Greece|first=Council of Europe, Directorate of Communications, All DC|last=levels|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> Early in the morning of 13 September, the offices of the party were attacked by a number of people, including the mayor of Florina.<ref name="HRW1997">{{cite web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/1997/10/08/human-rights-watch/helsinki-calls-greek-government-drop-charges-against-activists|title=Human Rights Watch /Helsinki Calls on the Greek Government to Drop Charges Against Activists of the Ethnic Macedonian Rainbow Pa (Human Rights Watch, 8-10-1997)|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> They broke into the premises, assaulted those inside and confiscated the sign. During the course of the night, equipment and furniture on the premises were thrown out the window and set alight. No one was charged for the attack.<ref name="P2000">{{cite book|last=Poulton|first=Hugh|title=Who are the Macedonians?|edition=2nd|year=2000|publisher=C. Hurst & Co. Publishers|isbn=978-1-85065-534-3|page=171}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Chris Kostov |title=Contested Ethnic Identity: The Case of Macedonian Immigrants in Toronto, 1900-1996 |date=2010 |publisher=Peter Lang |isbn=978-3-03430-196-1 |page=111}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |author=Vladimir Ortakovski |title=Minorities in the Balkans |date=2021 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-9-00447-899-2 |page=181}}</ref>
On 13 September, four leaders of the party [[Pavlos Voskopoulos]], [[Petros Vasiliadis]], [[Vasilis Romas]] and [[Costas Tasopoulos]] were charged with "causing and inciting mutual hatred among the citizens" under Article 192 of the Greek Penal Code.<ref>[https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur25/044/1998/en/ Amnesty International; Greece: Charges against members of the "Rainbow" party should be dropped]</ref> [[Amnesty International]] and [[Human Rights Watch]] called on Greek authorities to drop the charges against them. A trial was held against them in September 1998 and they were acquitted.<ref name="P2000" />
== Electoral results ==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="9"|'''Results, 1994–2019<br/><small>(year links to election page)</small>'''
|-
! style="width: 20px"|Year
! style="width:140px"|Type of Election
! style="width:120px"|Votes
! style="width: 20px"|%
! style="width: 20px"|Mandates
|-
! [[1994 European Parliament election in Greece|1994]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 7,263
| style="text-align:center" | 0.10
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
! [[1996 Greek legislative election|1996]]
| style="text-align:center" | Hellenic Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 3,485<sup>1</sup>
| style="text-align:center" | 0.05
| style="text-align:center" | -
|-
! [[1999 European Parliament election in Greece|1999]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 4,951
| style="text-align:center" | 0.08
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
! [[2004 European Parliament election in Greece|2004]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 6,176
| style="text-align:center" | 0.10
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
! [[2009 European Parliament election in Greece|2009]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 4,530
| style="text-align:center" | 0.09
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
! [[2014 European Parliament election in Greece|2014]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 5,759
| style="text-align:center" | 0.10
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
! [[2019 European Parliament election in Greece|2019]]
| style="text-align:center" | European Parliament
| style="text-align:center" | 6,412
| style="text-align:center" | 0.11
| style="text-align:center" | 0
|-
|}
<sup>1</sup> <small>Participated with OAKKE in the 1996 Greek Parliament election</small>
=== [[1994 European Parliament election in Greece|1994 European Parliament election]] ===
In the June 1994 Euroelections, a Rainbow list was presented by the Macedonian Movement for Balkan Prosperity (MAKIVE), in cooperation with the Rainbow group of the [[European Parliament]] (which included the minority and regionalist MEPs between 1989–1994). The list was immediately strongly attacked and slandered by the state news agency and some media; then the country’s Supreme Court invalidated its candidacy, on the grounds that it had not declared it was not aiming at overthrowing the regime, a declaration not used since 1974.<ref name="Greek Helsinki Monitor">{{cite web|url=http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/articles/the_macedonians.doc%20http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/bhr/english/articles/the_macedonians.doc|title=THE MACEDONIANS|access-date=27 October 2016}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref> Following the outcry, the Rainbow and two other leftist lists, which were initially excluded were reinstated.<ref name="Greek Helsinki Monitor"/> The Rainbow list was the only one not to get any air time on state television during the campaign and was not able to distribute ballots in most Southern Greek electoral districts; also, on election day, GHM and MRG-Greece received reliable information that the Rainbow ballot was not given to the voters in many Greater Athens voting places.<ref name="Greek Helsinki Monitor"/> Despite all those problems, Rainbow received 7,263 votes or 0.1% of the total electorate. Its relative share of the vote was significant in three districts where it received more than half its votes: 5.7% in [[Florina]], 1.3% in [[Pella]], and 0.9% in [[Kastoria]]. In the October 1994 more polarized district elections, the Rainbow list in Florina received 3.5%.<ref name="Greek Helsinki Monitor"/>
=== [[1999 European Parliament election in Greece|1999 European Parliament Election]] ===
Rainbow participated in the [[1999 European Parliament election in Greece|1999 elections]] for the [[European Parliament]], obtaining 4,951 votes (0.08% of the total Greek vote) and failing to elect anyone.
=== [[2002 Greek local elections]] ===
Petros Dimtsis, a Rainbow Party member, was elected [[Prefectures of Greece|prefecture]] counselor in the [[Florina]] prefecture on a local list also supported by the [[Panhellenic Socialist Movement]] (PASOK), as was the case that same year and at the next elections in 2006 for the candidate of the [[Turks of Western Thrace|Turkish minority]]'s [[Party of Friendship, Equality and Peace]], [[Achmet Chatziosman]], elected on a local list supported by PASOK and [[Synaspismós]] in the [[Rhodope Prefecture]]. So far, he was the only member of the party ever to have been elected to any office.
=== [[2004 Greek legislative election|2004 Greek Parliament Election]] ===
They decided not to take part in the 2004 parliamentary elections, citing shortage of funds as the reason.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.florina.org/html/2004/2004_statement_grk_election_gr.html |title=2004 Rainbow Will Not Participate in the Upcoming Greek Elections |access-date=2005-09-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050829140029/http://florina.org/html/2004/2004_statement_grk_election_gr.html |archive-date=2005-08-29 }}</ref>
=== [[2004 European Parliament election in Greece|2004 European Parliament Election]] ===
Rainbow took part in the [[2004 European Parliament election in Greece|2004 elections]], obtaining 6,176 votes (0.098%). Their best return was in the [[Florina]] prefecture, where they managed to tally 1,203 votes out of 39,532 cast,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ypes.gr/ekloges/content/gr/elec_data/2004UE_per_res.asp?per_id=14|title=ΥΠ. ΕΣ. Δ. Δ. Α.|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> failing to elect anyone. Out of the 6,176 votes Rainbow Party received, less than half (2,955) were cast in the region of [[Macedonia (Greece)|Macedonia]] itself. Because parties stand for election across the entire length and breadth of the country, the pro-ethnic Macedonian Rainbow Party polled better in such distant regions as [[Crete]] and the [[Peloponnese]] than it did in many Macedonian prefectures.
=== [[2006 Greek local elections]] ===
Rainbow elected several candidates in the [[Florina]] region{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}, including Petros Dimtsis who was reelected to the office of prefecture counselor in the [[Florina prefecture]].
=== [[2007 Greek legislative election|2007 Greek Parliament Election]] ===
Rainbow chose not to participate in the [[2007 Greek legislative election]], again citing a shortage of funds.<ref>[http://www.florina.org/html/2007/2007_efa_rainbow_elections_gr.html Press release of Rainbow] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014201653/http://florina.org/html/2007/2007_efa_rainbow_elections_gr.html |date=2007-10-14 }}</ref>
=== [[2009 European Parliament election in Greece|2009 European Parliament Election]] ===
In the [[2009 European Parliament election in Greece|2009 European Parliament election]], which resulted in a record low voter turnout,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/08/content_11504890.htm|title=Record low voter turnout in European Parliament elections_English_Xinhua|access-date=27 October 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073237/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-06/08/content_11504890.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref> Rainbow tallied a countrywide total of 4,530 votes (out of over 5.25 million cast), a 0.09% percentage result, and failed to gain a seat in the European Parliament. Their best return was in the [[Florina]] prefecture, with 1,195 votes (a 0.57% increase from the 2004 elections).<ref name="ekloges.ypes.gr">[http://ekloges.ypes.gr/pages/index.html Ministry of the Interior official election returns] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609065440/http://ekloges.ypes.gr/pages/index.html |date=2009-06-09 }}</ref> Votes tallied in other prefectures were mostly in the two-digit ballpark.<ref name="ekloges.ypes.gr"/>
=== [[2010 Greek local elections]] ===
Panayotis Anastasiadis (Pando Ashlakov), an active member of the party's leadership, was elected president of the village of [[Meliti]]/Ovchareni, but on a broader list, as for the local elections in Greece national parties are forbidden to take part, only local lists compete, usually with the support of several parties.<ref>The Political Secretariat of Vinozhito/EFA Rainbow, [http://www.macedonianhr.org.au/wip/images/stories/pdf/reviews/1294575987025.pdf Press release], 18 November 2010</ref>
=== 2019 European Parliament elections ===
The Rainbow Party received a total of 6,413 votes in the [[2019 European Parliament election in Greece]]. The party performed best in [[Florina (regional unit)|Florina]] where it received 3.3% (1,123 votes) of the vote, finishing sixth among the parties.<ref name="2019 Euro Elections">{{cite web|url= https://ekloges.ypes.gr/current/e/home/parties/119/ |title=ΕΥΡΩΠΑΪΚΗ ΕΛΕΥΘΕΡΗ ΣΥΜΜΑΧΙΑ - ΟΥΡΑΝΙΟ ΤΟΞΟ}}</ref>
== Political programme and reception ==
The Rainbow Party is interested in achieving political recognition of what they regard as an [[Macedonians (ethnic group)|ethnic Macedonian]] minority in Greece, and preserving its culture, [[Macedonian language|language]], and customs. Greece officially recognizes the party but not the ethnic group due to the existence of their own regional group also named [[Greek Macedonians|Macedonians]], their own historical association with [[ancient Macedonians]] and concerns of irredentism on behalf of the Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia). This issue was subject to a [[Macedonia naming dispute|naming dispute]] mediated by the United Nations, resolved in 2019.
An issue very important to the party is the reestablishment back to Greece of the former [[Ethnikos Laikos Apeleftherotikos Stratos|ELAS]] and [[Democratic Army of Greece]] partisans expelled during the [[Greek Civil War]] from [[Macedonia (Greece)]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://florina.org/rainbow/manifesto_old_e.asp|title=EFA-Rainbow :: News 2008|last=TJ-Hosting|access-date=27 October 2016}}</ref> During the Greek Civil War (1944–1949), many of them took refuge in parts of the former [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia]] (particularly the [[Socialist Republic of Macedonia]]), under the protection of the Yugoslav leader [[Josip Broz Tito]]. When PASOK was elected for the first time, they allowed all Greek communist refugees, located in many [[communist states]], to return to Greece. However, the refugees now living in the [[Republic of North Macedonia]] were never re-granted their citizenship. In [[Bulgaria]], historians such as Tsanko Serafimov connect the establishment of the party and the spread of [[Macedonian nationalism]] in the Greek region of Macedonia as a whole to a large extent with the disinterest of the Bulgarian state for the rights of the residents with [[Bulgarians|Bulgarian identity]] in the area after 1944; at the same time, [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]] was conducting intensified [[propaganda]].<ref>Цанко Серафимов, "Македония IX в.пр.Хр. - XXI в. Един прочит на историята на страдалната земя", София, издателство "Орбел", стр. 413</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Politics of Greece]]
* [[
== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://florina.org}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080314061945/http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/english/pressrelease/RP-Press%20Releases-Greece.html Press Releases], via the Greek [[Helsinki Committee for Human Rights]]
{{Greek political parties}}
{{Members of the European Free Alliance}}
{{Macedonian diaspora political parties and political organisations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rainbow (political party)}}
[[Category:Political parties of minorities in Greece]]
[[Category:Ethnic political parties]]
[[Category:European Free Alliance]]
[[Category:Slavic speakers of Greek Macedonia]]
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