Greek Deputy Minister Resigns Amid Allegations of Tempi Tragedy Cover-Up

In light of allegations of a cover-up and calls for a parliamentary investigation into his role in the Tempi tragedy investigation, the Deputy Minister of Civil Protection, Christos Triandopoulos has resigned. 

In an announcement made on the parliament floor on Thursday morning, Triandopoulos rejected all allegations against him. “I want to clarify that everything that is mentioned, as far as I am concerned, is outside of all reality and logic,” he stated. 

“In response to the proposal to set up a Pre-Investigation Committee, with which PASOK demonises our presence at the scene of the accident–demonstrating its commitment to the objective of uncritical instrumentalisation of the tragedy, by describing unfounded accusations attributed to me–I have the truth, the evidence and the facts to counter,” he said. 

PASOK filed for the establishment of a parliamentary committee to investigate the responsibilities of Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos in the handling of the Tempi tragedy site on Tuesday.

This request was made amidst ballooning public outrage over the Tempi disaster , with widespread accusations that the government has evaded justice, responsibility, and engaged in a cover-up.

The center-left opposition party alleged that Triantopoulos, who served as Deputy Prime Minister, ordered the landfilling of the Tempi site before a thorough investigation could take place, which could lead to criminal liabilities.

Triandopoulos’ full resignation statement is as follows: 

“Throughout my participation in the Government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and my parliamentary presence as an elected member of Parliament with New Democracy, I have chosen low tones and dedication to duty. My political and personal career has been guided by a sense of responsibility and respect for the institutions, in line with my personal and political ethos.

In response to the proposal to set up a Pre-Investigation Committee–with which PASOK demonizes our presence at the scene of the accident, demonstrating its commitment to the objective of uncritical instrumentalization of the tragedy, by describing unfounded accusations attributed to me–I have the truth, the evidence and the facts to counter.

With respect, first and foremost, for the victims of the tragedy and their relatives, as well as for the institutional processes and their representatives.

I want to clarify that everything that is mentioned, as far as I am concerned, is outside of all reality and logic. My presence, with a government team, at the scene of the accident, days after the tragic accident, and the arbitrary speculations about the reasons for it, are now being used for petty political reasons, as evidence of a hypothetical, and in reality non-existent, “cover-up”. It is implied that the government and its officials were acting with malice in order to ‘cover up’ unspecified illegal activities and unspecified culprits. Who, and why? Unknown.

At that time, in those critical moments, when we were all shocked, everyone was trying in his or her role to help. Today, with the benefit of hindsight and the security of the opposition, it is presented as a certainty that the government and its officials were acting as joint plotters, and with the purpose of a “cover-up”.

My presence in the region was known, transparent and documented, with interviews and press releases published nationwide.

The on-site presence of the government team, with each member having specific responsibilities according to his ministry’s portfolio, was political. Without interfering with the work of the departmental and operational agents, which had already begun from the first moment of the tragedy. The echelon should have been present, and it was. It went to assist where the need arose, responding to the demands of those difficult days.

For my part, and as I have mentioned in my public statements in Parliament, as Deputy Minister of State Aid to the Prime Minister, I have focused on two strands. Firstly, the organization of state aid and support for the families of the victims. We therefore worked with the relevant ministries to coordinate such issues, up to and including the formulation of support measures for the relatives of the deceased and injured. These measures were announced a few days later, with the cooperation of all the Ministries involved, including a special helpline.

Secondly, as the work of the operational actors progressed, I was involved in providing information – through television statements and press releases – on the progress of the actions in the field, in accordance with the information provided by the relevant service agents who are also responsible for them. In this context, information was made public from my side, including information on the identification of the deceased, the health of the hospitalized, and the progress of the restoration of the railway line.

To refer to the existence of deceit, even as an unproven hypothesis not based on facts, not supported by evidence, and not consistent with logic, but which supposedly led to “cover-up” actions, is extremely offensive.

I declare myself actively present to restore the truth, based on logic, evidence and facts.

And, of course, with the decision to establish the Commission, I will resign from my position as Deputy Minister of State for Climate Change and Civil Protection to facilitate the process and the work of the Government.