A heated debate is unfolding at the Greek Parliament on Tuesday, as leaders of opposition parties are challenging the conservative New Democracy government with its responsibilities and omissions and its cover-up attempts in the Tempi train tragedy.
The political debate takes place after the huge protests on Friday, February 28, where hundreds of thousands of Greeks took to the streets throughout the country and abroad demanding Justice for the 57 Tempi victims and expressing their anger over the Handling of the train disaster by the ND government.
The Parliamentary debate on Tuesday is focusing on the proposal of socialist PASOK that a preliminary investigative committee is established to examine the role of former Deputy Development Minister Christos Triantopoulos in ordering the rapid restructuring of the Tempi accident thus removing substantial evidence but also partial remains of the passengers and staff killed.
Critics argue that the decision to clear and cement over the site was a key point of contention in the government’s handling of the tragedy, as they claim it occurred before a thorough investigation had been completed—and before all victims’ remains were properly recovered, tovima.gr noted.
New Democracy is expected to support PASOK’s proposal in an effort to demonstrate transparency, while Triantopoulos is expected to take the floor in Parliament to defend his role in the aftermath of the disaster.
A voting is scheduled after the conclusion of the debate.
On Wednesday, March 5, a debate at the level of leaders, requested by the KKE and SYRIZA-PS, will be held on the subject of the Tempi crime.
On the same day, as announced by the leader of the main opposition PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, will submit a motion of censure against the government.
Androulakis had called on “all democratic opposition parties to support” his initiative, as 50 signatures are needed to submit a motion of no confidence, while PASOK has 32 MPs. Andloulakis is will need the support of other opposition parties.
So far, SYRIZA, New Left and Freedom Course have hinted that a strong opposition is needed, however, ND has a majority of 156 seats in a Parliament of 300.
At the debate on Tuesday, opposition leaders have stated that the government is no longer “politically and morally legalized.”
PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis has not appeared in the Parliament so far and interesting enough, he posted on FB on Sunday that “the rail route Athens-Thessaloniki will be safe by 2027.”
