Greece is engulfed in political turmoil as the second anniversary of the Tempi railway disaster where 57 people lost their lives approaches.
Opposition parties and relatives of the victims accuse the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis of a cover-up in the investigations following the rail crash. On February 28 demonstrations and rallies are planned throughout Greece as public anger shows no signs of abating despite the passage of time.
Mitsotakis has once again defended his government against accusations that it has manipulated the judiciary for political gain. In an interview with Kathimerini newspaper on Sunday, Mitsotakis dismissed opposition claims of a cover-up in the deadly Tempi train disaster, reaffirming his commitment to transparency and judicial independence.
He positioned himself as a defender of the rule of law, insisting that the tragedy should not be exploited for political purposes.
Political turmoil for Tempi
However, his critics argue that while Mitsotakis publicly champions the independence of Greece’s institutions, his government has repeatedly interfered in judicial matters, ignored court rulings, and used legal proceedings to advance its own agenda.
The Greek Prime Minister was responding to recently discovered video footage, analyzed by forensic experts, that some claim could reveal new details about the train crash.
Mitsotakis rejected what he called conspiracy theories and political opportunism, stating that national tragedies should not be reduced to partisan attacks. He emphasized that judicial authorities, not politicians, are responsible for determining the facts.
In his remarks, Mitsotakis also directed sharp criticism at the opposition, particularly PASOK and its leader Nikos Androulakis, accusing them of using the disaster for political gain. He argued that recent revelations undermined the opposition’s narrative and rejected accusations that his government had obstructed the investigation.
He further stressed that forensic experts had found no evidence of flammable or illegal cargo on the freight train involved in the crash. If the newly discovered video is authenticated, he said, it would debunk such claims entirely.
Greece’s opposition up the ante of criticism of Tempi rail crash
Opposition parties strongly condemned Mitsotakis’ remarks. PASOK accused him of undermining the rule of law. A PASOK spokesperson queried whether the government was sincere about wanting to facilitate justice, referring to its track record in the Tempi train collision investigation:
“Why did it not agree to a preliminary investigation committee for [then minister] Costas Karamanlis? Why do they not agree to discuss [contract] 717, which if it had been completed the accident would never have happened? And, as we are talking of justice, why does the government not implement the Council of State’s ruling vindicating [PASOK leader] Nikos Androulakis and order the National Intelligence Service to officially brief him,” spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas said.
Last week PASOK leader Androulakis amplified his concerns of a government cover-up. “A cover-up is to strategically mislead public opinion through fake news because elections are coming. Did New Democracy do this? It did. A few hours after the tragedy, they sent trumped-up conversations of the stationmaster to friendly mass media to reinforce the narrative of human error. The Prime Minister said he was adamant that engine oil was to blame and there was nothing else. Were they misleading the public? Of course!” Androulakis said, and stressed that there was also a withholding of evidence from the judiciary.
SYRIZA denounced his government for obstructing justice in the Tempi investigation. “As long as [Kyriakos Mitsotakis] remains prime minister we will never find out the truth about Tempi and justice, of which he presented himself today to be a champion, will never be done,” opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance said in an announcement on Sunday, adding: “Cover-ups are his specialty.”
“Postdated videos and surveillance software that is accidentally activated will always make him out a victim instead of the offender . . . as for the deficient defence agreement with France, which is now preparing to give Meteor missiles to Turkiye, let them decide together with [National Defence Minister] Nikos Dendias who is telling the truth and who is lying. The government is in retreat,” the party announcement said. “The no-confidence motion proposed by SYRIZA must no longer be delayed due to micro tactics,” it added.
The Communist Party framed the disaster as a consequence of neoliberal policies that prioritize profit over public safety. Meanwhile, the left-wing New Left party called on citizens to mobilize in protest against what it described as an ongoing government cover-up.
Related: Draft Report on Tempi Train Disaster Sheds Light on Collision, Explosions
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