Greece’s ruling New Democracy party (EPP) won 159 votes in support, surviving Thursday’s vote of no confidence put forward by opposition parties amid tensions over the 2023 deadly railway accident that killed 57 people, Euractiv reported.
In a three-day debate in the Greek parliament, opposition parties Syriza, Pasok, as well as the New Left and Course of Freedom parties pressured the government to reveal details of the 2023 accident.
The vote of no confidence, an initiative of Pasok leader Nikos Androulakis, claims that the government is trying to hide its political responsibility and protect the then Transport Minister Costas Karamanlis.
Opposition and research conducted by experts hired by victims’ relatives indicated that the area of about two acres was covered with gravel and concrete after the accident, which went against traditional research protocol and meant that the site where the accident took place was “contaminated”.
This action makes it difficult for the research and, above all, the taking of samples that might help to clarify several of the research questions.
Opposition parties insisted on Thursday that former Transport Minister Costas Karamanlis must stand trial, but Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended him, arguing it was a human error.
“If you believe that a preliminary investigation should be instituted against Mr. Karamanlis for possible intentional homicide, document it, bring it to the Parliament and let’s discuss it. The independent justice must have its say.”
Mitsotakis also spoke out against EU chief prosecutor Laura Kövesi, who recently stated that Greek authorities “obstructed investigations into deadly train accidents.” He also claimed that Kövesi had exceeded the limits of her competence.
You know very well that the competence of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is limited exclusively to acts affecting the finances of the European Union. The only issue that should concern Ms. Kövesi is the funds of the 717 contract and nothing more.
Speaking about the immunity of Greek ministers, Kövesi stated that the constitutional provision should be changed, adding that she had submitted such a request by sending a letter to the European Commission.
“We are blocked from finding the truth and applying justice. Because if you are forbidden from doing the investigations, you cannot find out the truth.”
The EU prosecutor examined the contract signed in 2014 for the reconstruction and modernisation of the signalling and remote control system of the Athens – Thessaloniki – Promachona railway. The “717 contract” was never implemented and the signalling and surveillance system had not been installed yet. Meanwhile, Greek railways are still operated manually.
If the project had been finalised in time and properly, this [accident] would have never happened […] this trauma cannot be healed without justice.
