EU - Greece - hammer and sickle

So, I traveled to Thessaloniki for the Greek Easter, and you can imagine my surprise when at the tolls just outside Athens I saw these flags by the Greek Communist Party please note the hammer and sickle symbol at the top of the flags. Now, my first reaction was total surprise! I asked myself whether this photo would be possible on any other European highway; I am now back in Vienna, Austria and it really strikes me as impossible.

Also, along with the flags, there were volunteers covering all lanes, with fryers explaining the values of the communist party with the slogan "Trust the KKE in the upcoming EU elections". I must say that this is one of the first campaign moves from a Greek Political party for the upcoming European elections, scheduled between 4 and 7 of June 2009. The message was clear enough: even if you don't agree with the Communists, vote for them in the European elections to send a "message"... whatever that means... Also in the same fryers they clearly disagree with the EU, but as a political party they take part in the elections...

Anyway, it was surrealistic but with good use of highway canvassing in trying to get the message out just a month before the elections.

Tuesday I had a chat with a Journalist friend of mine and I mentioned the Highway Communication method by the Communists... she laughed , she also told me that the flags have been banned since some people expressed their concerns.