Opposition Parties Sumbit No-Confidence Vote Against Greek Government

The leader of Greece’s main opposition party, PASOK, Nikos Androulakis submitted a no-confidence vote against the New Democracy government to the President of Parliament on Wednesday during a scheduled debate on the Tempi train crash.

The motion was backed by the other opposition parties SYRIZA, Nea Aristera (New Left), and Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom). The 16-page agreement outlines the government’s responsibility, mistakes, and omissions in handling the Tempi train crash tragedy.

Among other things, the document raises the issues of the lack of critical safety systems, severe staff shortages, and lack of proper oversight plaguing railway operations.

It continues by stressing that despite receiving explicit and official warnings, both Prime Minister Mitsotakis and ex-Minister Karamanlis chose to dismiss concerns, presenting a false sense of security to the public. Even after the tragedy, government officials attempted to justify their inaction.

It accuses the government of blocking investigations into potential criminal political responsibility for the failure to implement safety measures under contract 717/2014, which was meant to upgrade railway signaling and remote control systems.

The motion also claims the government dismissed a proposal for a parliamentary inquiry into the matter on November 24, 2023, with the government majority arguing it was “unfounded.”

It also draws attention to the fact that the government ignored the findings of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which established a direct link between the incomplete safety upgrades and the Tempi tragedy.

Source: Tovima.com