SYRIZA MEP Kostas Arvantis called today for Golden Dawn to be kicked out of the European Parliament after its sole member of the assembly was sentenced to more than 13 years in prison.

Greek MEP Giannis Lagos was jailed for 13 years and nine months on Wednesday after the entire leadership of the fascist organisation was found guilty of running a criminal organisation responsible for hate crimes and the murder of rapper Pavlos Fyssas.

Mr Arvantis, a member of the EU Parliament’s United Left/Nordic Green Left group, said that the convictions should lead to Mr Lagos losing his status as an MEP.

He also called for the expulsion of former Golden Dawn MEP Athanasios Konstantinou, who now sits as an independent.

“It is more than obvious that not only Lagos but also the other elected MEP under the Nazi criminal-gang ticket can no longer be a part of the European Parliament,” Mr Arvantis said.

Sentencing took place in Athens on Wednesday following a drawn-out process marked by delays and legal obfuscation.

The jail terms range from 13 years and nine months to 10 years, just below the maximum sentences for each charge, in an historic victory for the global anti-fascist movement.

Consideration of whether the sentences should be suspended pending appeal began yesterday afternoon, with a decision expected some days later.

“These soon-to-be-finalised sentences leave no room for second thoughts: Both MEPs elected under the Nazi ticket must be expelled,” Mr Arvantis insisted, adding: “Nazis out of the European Parliament now.”