Political Theater in Brussels: The European Parliament Stages an Anti-Fascist Monologue

When political institutions run low on effective answers, they often turn to drama. In Brussels, the European Parliament took this habit quite literally by transforming its assembly floor into an actual theater stage. Under the auspices of PASOK MEP Nikolas Farantouris, the institution hosted a monologue dedicated to Pavlos Fyssas, the Greek musician murdered by a member of the Golden Dawn group in September 2013.

The production, written by Maria Louka based on real witness statements and directed by Korais Damatis, saw actress Dora Chrysikou pace across the parliamentary benches. Performing in Greek with English and French subtitles, Chrysikou portrayed an eyewitness wrestling with her fears hours before testifying at the Golden Dawn trial. The performance was framed as an explicit symbolic gesture, with the actress physically traversing the legislative benches to signal a rejection of fascism.

In an official statement at the event, Farantouris warned his colleagues about extremist influences, asserting: No to the far-right agenda. We must not subscribe to the agenda of fear. We have to provide solutions without entering into dialogue with those who want to overturn democracy. He insisted that these elements had already crept into the European Parliament under a mask of modernization and normality to persuade the public that they hold solutions to global problems.

Yet this parliamentary spectacle highlights a familiar pattern in Brussels: substituting actual political results with curated moral symbolism. The theatrical performance coincided with recent electoral gains for far-right parties across Europe, including Germany. It also arrived alongside the release of Kasidiaris and his public announcement that he intends to re-enter the political arena.

Addressing the audience, Chrysikou reflected on the motivation behind the piece, noting that she was just two years older than Fyssas and had closely followed the trial before conceiving the project alongside his family. She lamented the political detachment of modern society, warning that an attitude of minding one's own business leaves citizens vulnerable until harm arrives directly at their doorstep. Farantouris, meanwhile, invoked the founding principles of peace and democracy that originally underpinned the European Union.

Whether staging political plays inside legislative chambers provides any genuine defense against political radicalization remains questionable. While extremist movements expand their footprint across member states, the European bureaucracy continues to indulge in symbolic art projects within its own walls.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com