Turmoil continued to grip the Greek political scene over the Tempi train crash, as opposition parties blasted the Greek Prime Minister for a cover-up and mismanagement of the Tempi train crash and its aftermath, in an acrimonious debate underway in the Greek parliament on Wednesday.
Taking the stand, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his government’s actions and stance on truth and justice fiercely criticizing the opposition for what he described as a “shameful attempt to exploit the disaster for political gain.”
“There are moments in parliamentary life that demand far more than a typical political confrontation. They require truth and responsibility, even when these seem to be lost in confusion,” Mitsotakis stated at the beginning of his speech.
PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis launched a scathing attack against the government, accusing it of a blatant cover-up of the tragedy. He announced that opposition parties would submit a motion of no confidence once all party leaders had spoken.
Referring to the alleged cover-up, Androulakis said he was “exposing” the Prime Minister’s political responsibilities. “You followed the same manual as in the wiretapping scandal – a cover-up. Isn’t it a cover-up to manipulate evidence,” he said.
On his part, SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos called for the “overthrow” of the government. “It is our duty to overturn this government,” he said. Commenting on Mitsotakis’ speech, he accused him of arrogance and lack of remorse, saying: “Today, you came with excessive arrogance and audacity, completely devoid of empathy, truly unrepentant.”
As tensions rise over the government’s response to the tragedy, the political battle in Parliament is expected to culminate in a no-confidence vote against the ruling New Democracy government for the second time in a year, expected to be submitted later in Parliament.
The motion, initiated by PAOK and backed by SYRIZA, Nea Aristera (New Left), and Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom), follows mass protests across Greece on Friday, where demonstrators expressed outrage over what they see as the government’s continued mishandling of the Tempi railway disaster and the slow delivery of justice in its aftermath.
