Greek Government Faces No-Confidence Vote Over Train Crash Handling
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s government holds a majority in parliament and is expected to survive Friday’s vote.
Greek opposition parties have submitted a motion to trigger a no-confidence vote against the government, citing its handling of the deadly 2023 train crash. The move comes days after nationwide protests brought the country to a standstill, with demonstrators demanding political accountability.
On Friday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across Greece to mark the second anniversary of the crash and demand justice for the victims. The disaster, which claimed the lives of 57 people—mostly students—has become a focal point for public anger over government failures.
Nikos Androulakis, leader of the socialist PASOK party, stated on Wednesday that the motion was filed due to the government’s “criminal incompetence.” The decision was supported by three left-wing parties: Syriza, New Left, and Course of Freedom. The no-confidence vote is scheduled for Friday.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose government holds 156 out of 300 parliamentary seats, is expected to survive the motion. He warned, however, that the vote would threaten the country’s political stability.
“I have an obligation to keep the country steady and safe in this uncertain climate,” Mitsotakis told parliament. He accused the opposition of spreading a “storm” of misinformation, dismissing allegations of a cover-up as a “colourful collection of myths, fantasies, and lies.”
The rail crash occurred on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki with more than 350 people on board collided with a freight train near the city of Larissa. The two trains had been traveling toward each other on the same track for miles without triggering any alarms. The accident was attributed to faulty equipment and human error.
Opposition parties have accused the government of ignoring repeated warnings about Greece’s underfunded and accident-prone railway system. Relatives of the victims have also criticized the government for failing to initiate or support an inquiry into political responsibility.
Last week, Greece’s Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARISA) reported that the crash was caused by chronic safety shortfalls, emphasizing the need for urgent reforms to prevent future tragedies.
On Tuesday, parliament voted to launch an investigation into whether Christos Triantopoulos, a senior official who visited the crash site after the accident, authorized the bulldozing of the area, which resulted in the loss of crucial evidence. Triantopoulos, who resigned on Tuesday, denied all allegations, stating that he had overseen relief efforts.
Despite the government’s denials of a cover-up, opinion polls indicate that a large majority of Greeks believe officials attempted to hide evidence.
To date, more than 40 people have been prosecuted in connection with the accident, including the local rail station chief responsible for routing the trains. However, a trial is not expected to begin before the end of the year.
The no-confidence vote underscores the deep political and public fallout from the tragedy, as Greece continues to grapple with calls for accountability and justice.
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