ATHENS – Three opposition parties in Greece have announced their plans to confront the center-right government through a censure motion regarding its response to a fatal rail accident that occurred nearly two years ago.
The pledge was prompted by mounting public anger over delays in the inquiry and allegations of a cover-up that the government strongly denies.
The tragic incident, which took place on Feb. 28, 2023, near Tempe in northern Greece, resulted in the loss of fifty-seven lives, including college students who were on their way back from a holiday trip. A passenger train collided head-on with a freight train, leading to this devastating outcome.
The response to this disaster has sparked outrage, with the relatives of the victims taking to the streets in various cities to express their discontent with the handling of the situation by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ conservative government. In addition to demonstrations in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other parts of Greece, protests have been organized by Greek communities in several European cities such as Amsterdam, Berlin, and Brussels.
Sokratis Famellos, leader of the left-wing Syriza party, said outside parliament that he sided with two other opposition parties, Pasok and the New Left, to seek a no-confidence vote.
“A joint initiative by progressive parties for a censure motion is necessary today. The evidence is there, and society demands accountability,” Famellos said Friday.
Although a censure motion is unlikely to pose a direct threat to the government, it could help forge bonds in Greece’s fractured opposition. Lawmakers from the three parties confirmed they were involved in discussions to agree on the timing of the motion.
Investigations have faced delays, with critics accusing authorities of obstructing justice. While some railway officials have been charged, no senior political figures have been held accountable, further intensifying public scrutiny.
Speaking to ministers at a Cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis vowed to overcome the “turbulence” facing the government.
“This difficult week comes to a close under the shadow of the Tempe tragedy,” he said in a televised address. “We are now entering the final stage of investigations into this deeply painful national trauma.”
The controversy overshadowed an ongoing parliamentary process to elect a new president. A government-backed candidate, Constantine Tassoulas, failed to win the cross-party support needed to secure the presidency in a second round of voting in parliament on Friday.
The 65-year-old former speaker of the assembly is expected to win in later rounds scheduled next month when the threshold is lowered.
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