Tempi Memorial Concert Strikes Nerve, Riles Greek Social Media

A sold-out concert in remembrance of the 57 victims of the February 2023 Tempi rail disaster was held on Friday night at the Panathenaic Stadium (Kallimarmaro). An outpouring of emotional posts on social media on Saturday indicates that the event not only honored the memory of those lost, but also reignited public anger over the perceived lack of accountability by the Greek government, more than a year and a half after the accident.

The concert was organized by a group representing several families of the victims, with local artists performing without compensation and organizers reporting that all 38,000 tickets were sold. Additional groups gathered near the venue, and media reports estimate that around 45,000 people were present in and around the stadium.

“One and a half years later, the relatives speak with the voice of the victims, and unite through pain and their loss, inviting us all to become the voice of the bereaved,” was the statement issued on the occasion. 

The Tempi railway accident was caused by a head-on collision, on the evening of Feb. 23, 2023, of two trains at the south end of the Tempi gorge in north-central Greece. It remains the deadliest rail accident in the country and large portions of the public accuse the Greek government of a cover-up, and feel that justice has not been served.

Foivos Delivorias’ Song

While images and videos from the event reveal that the entire concert was highly emotive, from the address by Maria Karystianou, a victim’s mother who now symbolizes’ the survivors and victims families’ fight for justice, one song in particular seems to have struck a nerve among Greeks.

The song was performed by Foivos Delivorias, and the lyrics encompass the commitment of those left behind not to abandon their fight for justice and to remember those lost, until they are eventually reunited in death.

In addition to Delivorias, other performers included: Loudovikos ton Anogeion, Koinoi Thnitoi, Dimitris Mystakidis, Tania Tsanaklidou, Sokratis Malamas, Ioulia Karapataki, Thanasis Papakonstantinou, Martha Frindzila, Giannis Litainas and Alexandros Ktistakis.

Wolt Drivers Join In

The date of the concert coincided with an organized protest of employees at food delivery company Wolt, where delivery staff from throughout the country held demonstrations to raise awareness of delivery workers’ rights.

The drivers took to the streets on their motorcycles and passed by the Panathinaic stadium during the concert, honking the horns of their motorcycles.

The move drew mixed reactions on social media, with some posts saying the drive-by was conducted in memory of the victims and in support of the victims’ families, who are also struggling with the Greek government and ‘big business’ for their rights to be observed.

Meanwhile, other social media comments expressed exasperation at what was perceived as an innapropriate publicity stunt, asking “why do we confuse everything? what are delivery drivers doing at this event?”

On Friday, delivery staff organized protests in Athens, Patra, and Thessaloniki, demanding a collective labor agreement. According to the protesters, a change in their payment structure, introduced two years ago, has been “disastrous” for employees, leading to significant wage cuts while increasing company profits.

Debate Over the Tempi Concert:

The concert organizers initially faced opposition from some families of the Tempi train disaster, who objected to the €15 ticket fee, arguing that it diminished the symbolic value of the event.

However, the organizers defended the charge, stating it was necessary to raise funds for ongoing legal battles related to the accident, as survivors and their families seek accountability from the Greek government and pursue an ever-elusive justice. In their bid for answers, they have even taken their complaint to the European Parliament.

The event was eventually approved by Greece’s Ministry of Culture.

The Greater Political Context

The concert comes at a time of widespread disillusionment with the political system for many Greeks. A seemingly endless wave of environmental and man-made disasters, coupled with a perceived lack of accountability, has deepened public frustration and has hit the incumbent political party New Democracy in public opinion polls.

New Democracy’s support has dropped by 19% since it won 41% of the vote in 2019, but it still holds 21.9%, compared to PASOK’s 12.2%, according to a poll conducted by OPEN television between September 30 and October 2.