In an extensive interview with Kathimerini, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attempts to respond to what he calls the \u201coperation to instrumentalize\u201d the 2023 Tempe rail disaster. He accuses the opposition of engaging in \u201cblind protest that hides a lack of political positions\u201d and a \u201cdangerous attack on institutions.\u201d He also explains his reasoning for choosing newly elected Konstantinos Tasoulas, a former house speaker and New Democracy MP, for president (voted February 12), talks about the government\u2019s foreign policy, specifically toward Turkey, and comments on floating scenarios of a possible cabinet reshuffle.<\/p>\n
Last Wednesday, Konstantinos Tasoulas was elected president of the republic. On what did you base your decision not to nominate Katerina Sakellaropoulou for a second term? Would it have been the same if the government\u2019s law on marriage equality had not taken place?<\/strong><\/p>\n Ms Sakellaropoulou will go down in history as the first female president of the republic. We honor her and are always grateful for her contribution. In the current international context, however, in the midst of geostrategic changes and political turmoil, I have decided that the country needs a president with extensive experience in public affairs. And Konstantinos Tasoulas is, without a doubt, a politician with these characteristics. For decades, after all, he has served as mayor, as a member of parliament and as a minister. Mainly, however, as house speaker, elected for three terms and with large cross-party majorities. I am sorry, in fact, that some people tried to involve him in their own instrumentalization of the Tempe rail tragedy. And I am not just talking about the well-known political extremists. Because I also saw that [main opposition leader] Mr [Nikos] Androulakis did not even stay in Parliament to hear the result of the last vote. In the meantime, he had turned his party [PASOK] into the role of feeder of the most unlikely scenarios. I repeat, therefore, that our country needs truth and seriousness. Because questioning the institutions \u2013 from Parliament and justice to the president of the republic himself \u2013 carries risks. It abolishes rules and limits, leading to a social \u201cjungle.\u201d And we know well that the weakest are the first to be wronged in such an environment, as the law of the strongest prevails. In any case, however, I am certain that the new president of the republic will have a successful term, uniting all Greeks and radiating prestige and dignity for the country. This is something that will be confirmed in the years to come.<\/p>\n Criticism is being expressed that you broke with a 30-year-old political tradition, namely selecting a president that enjoys bipartisan support to rally your parliamentary group.<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s call things by their proper name for once, far from fabricated myths. The center-right has had and still has figures of wider political appeal. This is not the privilege of the center-left. Just as no political group can monopolize the characteristics required by the highest office. What is always necessary is for the appropriate candidate to meet the demands of the national interest alone. But since you are talking about \u201ctradition,\u201d let us remember what PASOK had done as a government in 1985 when it had proposed Christos Sartzetakis [for president], and, more recently, in 2009, George Papandreou, as leader of the main opposition, had used the election of the president as a lever to provoke elections. He refused, as you know, at the time, the candidacy of Karolos Papoulias in a hypocritical manner. However, he then suddenly agreed with it, when the government changed. So what \u201cbipartisan tradition\u201d are we talking about?<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go back a little to your recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron. What did you tell him about the Meteor missiles [that France reportedly intends to sell to Turkey]?<\/strong><\/p>\n These discussions are better left private. We had a comprehensive discussion that reaffirmed the excellent relationship of strategic cooperation between the two countries at all levels. Let\u2019s leave it at that, as you understand that foreign policy and defense issues do not lend themselves to many public discussions\u2026<\/p>\n However, we saw the government move in two different directions regarding the missiles. And I want to ask you if the Ministry of Defense consulted with your office before making a public protest to the French ambassador. Does the government have two \u201cpoles\u201d of foreign policy?<\/strong><\/p>\n The country\u2019s foreign policy is one and is expressed by me and by the KYSEA [Greece\u2019s top decision-making body on foreign affairs and defense matters] as a whole. Each minister obviously refers to the issues he handles daily. The direction of the government, however, is always unified and is reflected by the prime minister. So do not look for variations in a completely coherent policy.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s turn to Greek-Turkish relations. Recently, it seems that relations with Ankara have deteriorated. Where do we stand today? Does it seem to you that the tactic of the last two years has been overly optimistic regarding the possibilities of improving relations with Turkey? Were excessive expectations cultivated?<\/strong><\/p>\n We never cultivated expectations. Greece had a clear position from the beginning, without ever negotiating our long-standing red lines. It has maintained and is maintaining an active policy with visible results. After all, we proposed the path of peaceful coexistence so that Turkey could join it, recognizing reality. In fact, the accomplishments, so far, have been many and important: from the absence of [airspace] violations and tension in the Aegean, to the visit of thousands of tourists from the neighboring country to our islands; and from the cooperation of the two states on migration and civil protection, to the identification of joint economic actions. I am in favor of good neighborliness with the country that borders us and with which geography wants us side by side. But I am not naive. I believe in maintaining \u201ccalm waters\u201d precisely because I work so that these are also free waters! That is why, at the same time, our country is building strong alliances abroad. It protects its borders, and it is strengthening its national defense and its armed forces more than ever. In other words, we are following a policy that makes Greece increasingly stronger.<\/p>\n You have proposed the creation of a common European defense. How realistic is this proposal in today\u2019s EU?<\/strong><\/p>\n You will remember that in the past I had proposed initiatives such as the creation of the Recovery Fund, which ultimately became a reality with multiple benefits. Thus, I considered it necessary for our country to play a leading role in the consultations with our partners for the establishment of a single fund for defense and the exemption of defense spending from the budgetary rules. But also for the anti-missile armoring of our continent. I won\u2019t deny that, when I first raised the issue, there were not many supporters. However, I insisted with repeated statements at the summits, with my articles in the international press, as well as with a letter to the president of the EU, which I co-signed with my Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk. I was therefore pleased to hear, after the last European Council, that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President Antonio Costa declared their readiness to explore ways of budgetary flexibility to increase defense spending and strengthen European defense. There is, of course, a long way to go before these discussions are concluded. But it is a path that has now been opened and recent geopolitical developments require us to tread it with speed and determination.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go to developments on the other side of the Atlantic. Are you concerned about US President Donald Trump\u2019s announcements on tariffs and the impact they may have on the Greek economy? Can there be a European response?<\/strong><\/p>\n I have repeatedly said that I believe in Euro-Atlantic cooperation. We must cooperate in the many areas where our interests converge and seek solutions. Besides, imposing tariffs is not in the interest of either the EU or the US. Europe, therefore, will react collectively and united to protect its interests as and when necessary. Obviously, there will be consequences, which will however be smaller for Greece due to the smaller volume and share of its exports. Speaking, however, of common challenges, I will emphasize that Europe cannot be absent from the table of peace talks on Ukraine. The time has come, I would say, for its geopolitical coming of age, and it\u2019s time to seek its own special place on the new map of the global power balance.<\/p>\n Many express anxiety about the Greek economy, that it is still fragile 10 years after its economic collapse. Do you have such a fear?<\/strong><\/p>\n The resilience of an economy is judged by objective indicators. First, by its fiscal stability \u2013 that is, its ability to produce surpluses instead of deficits. Second, by its borrowing costs and its investment grade. Third, by the share of exports in its GDP. Fourth, by its public and private debt. And fifth, by the size of employment and unemployment. In all these indicators, our economy has proven over the last five and a half years that it can set ambitious goals and achieve them. Thus, we have regained investment grade. Growth is progressing faster than the European [average] despite the [Covid-19] pandemic and the energy crisis. We borrow more cheaply than large European states. We also reduced public debt by 55 points and private debt by 27%. At the same time, we are generating primary surpluses. Almost half of our GDP now consists of internationally traded goods and services, while we created 500,000 new jobs, reducing unemployment by 50%. And much more.<\/p>\n Have we corrected all the structural weaknesses of our economy? No! We still have a long way to go, mainly until this collective progress is reflected in the disposable income of Greek citizens. Of course, so far taxes have been reduced, while wages, pensions and the minimum wage have been permanently increased. In 2024 alone, the average wage increased by 7.2% compared to 2023. However, we must continue to aim for an average wage of 1,500 euros and a minimum wage of 900 euros. But the middle class must also be relieved more. We must also work to further reduce our trade deficit, where thanks to the rapid energy transition to renewable energy sources, we already managed to have a trade surplus and be purely export-oriented in 2024. And, of course, a lot of effort is required for more reforms in health and education, the further digitization of the state, the acceleration in the administration of justice, transportation, and of course in the completion of the cadastre and land uses throughout the country. All of these are our priorities, plans, which are progressing simultaneously and quietly and which will gradually be reflected in tangible results. This also applies to major public projects until the milestone of 2027 [when new national elections will be held]. The Thessaloniki Metro is one such example.\u00a0<\/p>\n Let\u2019s move to the subject of the 2023 Tempe railway disaster. There has been a lot of contradictory information reaching the public recently about whether the freight train that crashed into the passenger train was carrying illegal cargo. You have also expressed different positions on the matter. On Thursday, the experts opined that there was no illegal cargo in evidence from the most recent video footage to emerge. If the official reports, expected to be published soon, refer to the presence of flammable material, are you concerned about the confusion remaining in the public mind from the absence of a definitive conclusion?<\/strong><\/p>\n We don\u2019t pretend to be judges, as some in the opposition do. Especially with regard to the more recent developments, we stay with the fact that the judicial experts, who have been investigating this case since day one, conclude that there were no tanks of flammable cargo on the freight train. The videos still need to be certified, of course, by the Hellenic Police. Once their authenticity is confirmed, though, the scenario of an \u201cillegal cargo\u201d \u2013 and, therefore, any intimations of a \u201ccover-up\u201d \u2013 collapse with a bang. Ignorance is the soil of populism and obsessive suspicion its seed, while lies, no matter how outlandish, become the fertilizer that helps it bloom and grow out of control. A parasite, in short, that was nurtured for months by political forces and public figures exploiting the unspeakable pain of the [victims\u2019] relatives in the most vulgar manner. And one last thing: At a time when many are openly questioning the justice system, I have a double duty to raise a protective wall around its officials and, therefore, also around democracy.<\/p>\n Nevertheless, people are wondering why this evidence appeared now, two years after the accident. Isn\u2019t it, therefore, also reasonable for people to question whether the state apparatus acted as it should have?<\/strong><\/p>\n Let\u2019s agree on one thing: If this important visual evidence is proved to be genuine, the state had no reason to see them included in the case file belatedly. On the contrary, it seems that their coming to light disrupts the plans of those who tried to survive politically by building an entire narrative around cover-up theories. Beyond that, I am certain that justice will give us answers to every question, both old and new.<\/p>\n It also seems that the investigation would have come to a conclusion sooner if evidence was not destroyed in the immediate aftermath of the crash. The opposition is still talking about the fact that the scene of the accident was covered with concrete and gravel. Do you have a clearer picture now about what was done correctly and what was not?<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s one thing to evaluate the operational decisions taken on the field \u2013 and especially in light of the needs of those dramatic hours \u2013 and quite another to make baseless accusations about a cover-up, to suggest that some deliberate cover-up action was taken. And who would want to cover anything up, anyway, and for what reason? The notion not only defies common sense \u2013 there\u2019s also no basis for it. It\u2019s a notion that is being resoundingly debunked, actually. And, to be clear: I never waited around for a video to appear to counter the lies and vulgarity. Now, and even in light of the new evidence, I will insist on my original position for the truth to be investigated, the responsible parties identified and punished, and the state made aware of its lapses and oversights so it can do better. I will not, however, succumb to conspiracy theories, populist slogans and the weaponization of a collective tragedy. An accident that left the nation steeped in grief cannot be reduced to a cheap rallying cry and a lever of party interests. On that I stand firm.<\/p>\n Hellenic Train, the Greek subsidiary of Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, which is responsible for the country\u2019s trains, will be made to answer for the incident within the context of the concession agreement signed with the Greek state. Do you intend to bring up the issue bilaterally when you meet with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni?<\/strong><\/p>\n First of all, we need to wait for the justice system\u2019s answers and see where responsibility lies. Regardless of that, however, I will certainly push for the company to bring us more and better trains, as fast as possible. The Athens-Thessaloniki service needs to be completely new by 2027. In the meantime, a lot of steps have already been taken, such as completing the remote control system, with the exception of the section that was destroyed by [the 2023 Storm] Daniel, installing 300 cameras across the network, inspecting the tunnels, and hiring 120 new staff at OSE [the Hellenic Railways Organization], with an additional 140 in the pipeline, not to mention the complete restructuring of Hellenic Railways into one body. A lot more needs to be done, however, and this is something I am personally invested in. To put it differently, I promise one thing: We will find the best people to head this new organization and also await recommendations from the opposition. Greece must have a railway befitting the times within the next two years.<\/p>\n What is the message you have received from the mass protests over the Tempe issue? How do you interpret and respond to this wave of reaction?<\/strong><\/p>\n Every citizen expresses their concern or their demand for justice in the way they see fit \u2013 whether by participating in a rally, posting online or staying silent. I hear these messages, and I often share their sentiments. However, they must be genuine and rooted in reality, clear of political and personal ulterior motives. Citizens, I feel, are demanding truth and justice. This is what the state wants too, and it is supporting the investigation and judicial process in every possible way. But I also understand that public opinion expects us to accelerate the necessary changes to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. And this is precisely what we are doing.<\/p>\n If you weren\u2019t a politician, would you join the protesters \u2013 as one of your ministers recently suggested you would?<\/strong><\/p>\n Our job is to advance any policy that forwards society\u2019s long-standing demand for a more efficient state. And this is precisely where we differ essentially from the opposition: We seek to represent certainty, planning and results, while they express reaction for reaction\u2019s sake. A reaction which, in fact, turned into a garbled cry with no hope of leading to anything. It is an \u201canti-Mitsotakis\u201d coalition, or some such thing, that basically tries to hide the complete lack of a program and positions. Well, I have no intention of allowing such a distortion to escalate. The country does not need new divisions and conspiracies. What it needs is stability, especially given the unprecedented geopolitical environment in which we find ourselves.<\/p>\n The ongoing seismic activity around the island of Santorini is alarming. Are you concerned about its potential impact on the economy? Does the government have a Plan B for the eventuality that the phenomenon impacts not just Santorini but the entire country\u2019s tourism product?<\/strong><\/p>\n As you will have noticed, the state acted proactively with all its critical structures and in full cooperation with the scientific community, which is closely monitoring the seismic activity in Santorini, Amorgos and the neighboring islands. As far as tourism is concerned, although this phenomenon is taking place during the low season, we have already implemented support measures for workers and businesses in the affected areas. We hope that the seismic activity will subside, while once again emphasizing that experts have the leading role in assessing the situation. In any case, iconic Santorini and the neighboring islands will receive additional support if needed, especially as we approach the next tourism season.<\/p>\n I won\u2019t ask whether you\u2019ll reshuffle the cabinet because I obviously won\u2019t get an answer. But I would like to know the rationale and breadth of the changes, when they do take place.<\/strong><\/p>\n Instead of talking about reshuffles, which are the fodder of political gossip, I would rather tell you about the Greece I want to show in 2027, when our second term ends. It is a Greece that will have put its public finances in order and will no longer be a European laggard. With an economy that produces surpluses and will have reduced antisocial tax evasion and, in so doing, commit additional resources to public health, public schools, transportation and defense. It will be a Greece without long waiting lines at hospital emergency rooms and endless waiting lists for surgery. A place where universities will no longer be surrendered to anomy and will be able to compete on an equal footing with non-state, nonprofit universities. A Greece with good-quality public transportation, with a radically overhauled fleet of new buses and metro trains, and with a railway that will take passengers to their destinations reliably and safely. A Greece, as I\u2019ve already said, with better salaries, with 1,500 euros on average and 950 euros for basic wage. With fewer social and regional inequalities and more security at its borders. A Greece that is energy independent and stronger productively. With a state that will have digitized all of its services and in which justice acts fairly and swiftly. A state that finally has a digital cadastre and local zoning plans in every part of the country. In other words, the program we are carrying out is multifaceted and touches on every aspect of social and economic life, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of citizens. Therefore, individuals certainly matter, but with one essential condition: that they consistently serve this goal and this vision.<\/p>\n Public opinion polls show New Democracy falling short of the percentage needed to govern alone. If this trend persists, who would you potentially choose to work with?<\/strong><\/p>\n I believe in single-party governments, and this belief is only strengthened by developments in the rest of Europe. Political stability, earnestness and a clear plan for economic progress are, in my view, the key priorities today, and will remain so in the future. In any case, similar claims were made before the 2023 elections, yet they were disproven by the Greek people. Our job is to implement the program for which we were elected in 2023. And I am confident that if we remain consistent, we will once again earn the trust of the citizens.<\/p>\n The parties to the right of New Democracy collectively enjoy nearly 20% of support. Do you think that you may have contributed to this in some way? And, if so, what would you have done differently?<\/strong><\/p>\n I make a clear distinction between these parties and the citizens who may consider supporting them. I will say this, however: First, I categorically rule out any possibility of cooperation with far-right parties and, second, I will continue to strive, through the policies we implement, to address, with tangible actions, the concerns and demands of these people.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"doubting-institutions-leads-to-a-social-jungle0\"](\"https:\/\/www.ekathimerini.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/mitsotakis_kathimerini.jpg?1739622647815\")
\u2018I hear these messages,\u2019 but they must be \u2018rooted in reality\u2019<\/h3>\n
Support for the islands<\/h3>\n
No far-right cooperation<\/h3>\n