- This page refers to the Greek political party. For the sexual activity see Rainbow party (sexuality).
The Rainbow (Greek: Ουράνιο Τόξο, Macedonian/Slavic: Виножито) is a political party in Greece.
It is known for its activism amongst the Slavic-speaking minority (which the party regards as a Macedonian Slav minority) and its support to Macedonian Slavs living in Greece. The Rainbow states that it is not a separatist party and sees the acceptance of the FYROM in the European Union with positive regard.
In the past, it had an alliance with the Organization for the Reconstruction of the Communist Party of Greece (OAKKE). The two once formed a coalition in the local elections.
Electoral results
It participated in the 1999 elections for the European Parliament, obtaining 4951 votes (0.08 % of the total Greek vote), and the 2004 elections, obtaining 6176 votes out of 6,283,637 total votes cast (0.1 %). Their best return was in the Florina prefecture, where they managed to tally 1,200 votes. The Rainbow Party is a member of the European Free Alliance. They decided not to take part in the 2004 parliamentary elections, citing shortage of funds as the reason.
Out of the 6,176 votes Rainbow Party received, less than half (2,955) were cast in the region of Macedonia itself. Because parties stand for election across the entire length and breadth of the country, the pro-Macedonian Slav Rainbow Party polled better in such distant regions as Crete and the Peloponnese than it did in many Macedonian prefectures. Political analysts have yet to explain why a party championing the "Macedonian" cause would attract more voters outside Macedonia, in areas with no Slavonic-speakers, than in its intended target region. Some observers have pointed to the party's attractive name and logo as a possible reason for its unexpected success outside Macedonia.[1]
Petros Dimtsis is a Rainbow Party member who has been elected to the office of prefecture counselor in the Florina prefecture, under the flag of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), in the 2002 Greek Prefectural Elections. So far, he is the only member of the party to have been elected to any office.
Political agenda
An issue very important to the Party's agenda is the reestablishment of the former ELAS refugees living in the Republic of Macedonia back to Greece. During the Greek Civil War (1944-1949), many Macedonian fighters of the communist ELAS (Greek National Liberation Army) took refuge in parts of the former Yugoslavia (particularily the FYROM ), under the protection of the Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito. At the end of the war, those political refugees who only considered themselves "Greek" were allowed to return to their homeland and reclaim their properties. However, the same thing did not happen to those who originated from Greece and defined themselves as "ethnic Macedonians", who have been refused to reestablish in the country since then. The Rainbow Party is also interested in achieving political recognition of what they regard as a Macedonian Slav minority in Greece, and preserving its culture, language, and customs.
See also
External links
- "Macedonian Political Party in Greece - RAINBOW"
- Greek election results, via the Greek Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Press Releases, via the Greek Helsinki Committee for Human Rights
- George Soros , links in Macedonian language