ATHENS: The Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is facing a no-confidence vote on Thursday over its handling of a train crash last year that left 57 people dead.
Media reports this week have alleged manipulation of evidence related to the incident.
Opposition parties from the left submitted a censure motion against the conservative government, accusing it of attempting to conceal the truth following a collision between a freight train and a passenger train in central Greece.
This accident, the deadliest in Greek history, prompted criticism of decades-long neglect and mismanagement affecting railway safety standards.
Despite denying any wrongdoing, the government is expected to survive the no-confidence vote due to its majority in parliament. However, the motion underscores public discontent over the disaster and the perceived lack of improvement in railway safety measures.
Nikos Androulakis, leader of the centre-left PASOK party, emphasized the public’s desire for transparency and truth during parliamentary discussions on Wednesday.
An ongoing judicial investigation into the crash is anticipated to conclude in the coming months. Several individuals, including a station master currently in custody pending trial, have been charged in connection with the incident.
Allegations have surfaced, as reported by To Vima newspaper, regarding the potential editing of a recording between the station master and the train driver to shift blame towards human error instead of systemic railway issues. However, these allegations remain unverified.
Concerns have also been raised by investigators hired by victims’ families regarding the rapid removal of damaged train carriages and the placement of gravel at the crash site, potentially compromising evidence. At the time of the crash, Greece lacked a functional national body for investigating such incidents.
Relatives of the victims have initiated a petition to amend long-standing laws that shield politicians from prosecution. The petition has garnered over 1.3 million signatures.
Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party, leading in opinion polls, dismisses the opposition’s actions as politically motivated, labeling the allegations as a “campaign of lies and deception,” according to Justice Minister George Floridis.
