Greece is preparing for Friday’s rallies marking the second anniversary of the Tempe rail tragedy, which has had a catalytic effect on domestic political developments. The entire country is expected to come to a halt, with over 270 rallies planned in cities across Greece and abroad.
The families of the victims are pinning their hopes on mass participation to push for justice. Polls indicate that more than seven out of ten Greeks believe there has been an attempt to cover up the handling of the disaster.
Τhe government is divided on how to address the rallies. The Prime Minister’s Office distinguishes between the relatives of the victims and participants in the rallies and “forces seeking political instrumentalization to bring down the government.” Some government officials, however, have taken a more aggressive stance, suggesting possible plans to destabilize the government through small parties used as tools by foreign powers. Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis even urged New Democracy members to “react with anger in cafes, at work, and with friends” whenever they hear claims of a cover-up in the case.
Strikes and rallies
Greece’s main public and private sector trade unions have announced a 24-hour strike. Travel will be suspended nationwide, with seafarers, air traffic controllers, and railway workers joining the strike. Lawyers will also hold a 24-hour walkout, while taxi drivers and pharmacies have announced work stoppages. Nightclubs, live music venues, restaurants, and cafes will be closed.
Reports on rail tragedy
This week, reports examining the circumstances surrounding the deadly rail crash are expected to be published, but it appears they will not provide clear answers.
Experts from the University of Ghent seem to rule out the theory that the fire was caused by silicone oils in the transformers, but they have not provided an explanation for the fire’s cause.
The findings from the National Technical University of Athens, expected by the end of the week, are likely to be along similar lines.
The National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents will present its report on Thursday, which is not expected to reveal the cause of the explosions and fire following the crash. It will also refer the case to the University of Lausanne, a leading research center in fire science, which will extend its investigation for another six months.
Meanwhile, the Greek Police Criminal Investigation Department is completing its investigation, which aims to confirm the authenticity of new videos that emerged earlier this month – two years after the crash. However, due to repeated recordings and deletions of files, the authenticity of these videos may not be verified.
Foreign minister’s US visit
Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis will visit New York from Sunday to Tuesday as part of Greece’s tenure on the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, where he will participate in several United Nations events.
On Wednesday, the foreign minister will visit Washington, DC to meet with the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as Greece navigates a delicate balancing act – committed to the European Union while maintaining its relationship with the United States.
Defense minister in London
Defense Minister Nikos Dendias will visit London on Tuesday to meet with British counterpart John Healey. This visit comes amid growing concerns in Athens over Turkey’s discussions with two consortia regarding the purchase of Eurofighter jets and Meteor missiles.