Greece’s opposition parties have launched a motion of no-confidence against the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over its handling of the devastating 2023 train crash that claimed the lives of 57 people, mostly students, Al Jazeera reports.
The move comes just days after widespread protests brought the country to a standstill, fueled by public anger over the disaster and demands for political accountability.
Nikos Androulakis, leader of the socialist PASOK party, formally submitted the motion on Wednesday, accusing the government of “criminal incompetence” in its response to the tragedy. The motion has garnered support from three other left-wing parties: Syriza, New Left, and Course of Freedom. A parliamentary vote on the motion is scheduled for Friday.
The train crash occurred on February 28, 2023, when a passenger train traveling from Athens to Thessaloniki collided head-on with a freight train near the city of Larissa. Investigations revealed that the two trains had been traveling on the same track for several miles without any warning signals being triggered. While faulty equipment and human error were identified as contributing factors, opposition parties argue that the government ignored repeated warnings about underfunding and safety deficiencies within the Greek railway system.
Hundreds of thousands of Greeks took to the streets last Friday to mark the second anniversary of the crash, demanding justice and accountability. Relatives of the victims have been particularly critical of the government, accusing it of failing to initiate or support a thorough inquiry into potential political responsibility.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis, whose New Democracy party holds 156 out of 300 seats in parliament, is widely expected to survive the no-confidence vote. He condemned the motion as a threat to the country’s political stability during an already uncertain period. “I have an obligation to keep the country steady and safe in this uncertain climate,” Mitsotakis told parliament, accusing the opposition of spreading misinformation.
The political turmoil follows the release of a report last week by the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARISA), which highlighted chronic safety shortcomings that contributed to the crash and require urgent attention to prevent future tragedies.
Further complicating matters, parliament voted on Tuesday to launch an investigation into allegations that a senior government official, Christos Triantopoulos, ordered the bulldozing of the crash site shortly after the accident, potentially destroying crucial evidence. Triantopoulos, who has since resigned, has denied the allegations and maintains he oversaw only relief efforts.
Despite government denials, public opinion polls indicate a widespread belief among Greeks that the government attempted to cover up evidence related to the train crash.
To date, over 40 individuals have been prosecuted in connection with the disaster, including the local rail station chief responsible for routing the trains. However, a trial into the crash is not expected to begin before the end of the year.
