Greek lawmakers debate a no-confidence vote submitted by opposition parties over the government’s handling of last year’s Tempe rail disaster at a plenary session of the Parliament in Athens, on March 26, 2024. [Yiannis Liakos/Intime News]
The government has strongly rejected opposition claims of a cover-up following the deadly train crash at Tempe in central Greece in late Februay, 2028.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis addressed accusations that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis orchestrated a cover-up, insisting that the government’s priority is to allow the judicial process to unfold naturally.
“If the government wanted to cover it up, we would pressure the justice system to close quickly,” he said, emphasizing that significant evidence, including a report from the National Technical University of Athens, has surfaced.
Justice Minister Giorgos Floridis echoed the comments, stating that the government cannot dictate the pace of an ongoing investigation. He highlighted that of the 300 requests made by victims’ relatives, 250 have been reviewed.
Opposition parties, including PASOK, SYRIZA and KKE, have fiercely criticized the government, accusing it of obstructing investigations and failing to address political responsibilities.
PASOK’s Kostas Tsoukalas questioned why Mitsotakis was quick to dismiss allegations, pointing to contradictory evidence.
New Left leader Alexis Charitsis called for a no-confidence motion, citing an effort to thwart legal action against political figures.
The debate continues to intensify ahead of parliamentary discussions planned for the next week.