[Giorgos Zachos/InTime News]
A censure motion against the government over the Tempe railway disaster was submitted on Wednesday by 85 opposition MPs from the opposition parties PASOK, SYRIZA, New Freedom and New Left, as well as nine independent MPs.
The 17-page document, submitted to parliament by main opposition PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, said the “criminal disaster” of Tempe on February 28, 2023, was “the deadliest railway tragedy in the history of Greece” and accused the government of enabling impunity and participating in a cover-up, saying these actions had sparked a nationwide demand for justice.
“This is now an illegitimate government with an illegitimate prime minister,” the no-confidence motion says.
The document details a series of events and actions that prompted the MPs to file the motion, arguing that the government misled the public about the safety of the rail system.
It accuses the administration of failing to implement necessary safety measures on the railway that could have prevented the disaster, tampering with the accident site, using edited audio recordings and making false claims, including the Prime Minister’s statement that there was no illegal cargo on the freight train.
According to the MPs, these actions indicate a clear effort to cover up the government’s responsibility for the tragedy.
In addition, the MPs argue that for two years the government has taken no steps to improve the rail system or address the conditions that led to the accident.