International

Govt Accused of Train Disaster Cover-up in Greece

Greek opposition parties on Wednesday accused the conservative government of "orchestrating a cover-up" regarding responsibilities after last year's deadly train crash, the worst in Greek history.

A parliamentary report attributed the crash solely to "human error," according to Agerpres, citing France Presse.

Fifty-seven people, including many students, were killed on February 28, 2023, when a freight train and a passenger train collided in Tempe on the main railway line linking Athens to Thessaloniki (north).

"This is a government-orchestrated cover-up," said Milena Apostolaki, a member of the socialist PASOK party, during a parliamentary debate on the findings of the investigative committee that drafted the report. The committee is led by New Democracy, the party in power in Athens.

Many members of parliament across the political spectrum, from the far right to the Communist Party (KKE) and the left-wing Syriza opposition, criticised the lack of objectivity of this preliminary report. They claim it only confirmed the initial thesis of the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis that the catastrophe was the result of "human error."

The leader of the Syriza parliamentary group, Sokratis Famellos, denounced "the constant efforts of the government to cover up the crime at Tempe."

The families of the victims are particularly accusing former Transport Minister Kostas Karamanlis, who resigned after the accident, and his left-wing predecessor Christos Spirtzis, both of whom are now members of parliament. They called on Wednesday for "the lifting of the parliamentary immunity of these two deputies."

According to the Greek parliamentary inquiry report, the justice system must shed light on this case.

"Only the justice system will have the final say on the responsibilities in this tragedy," Prime Minister Mitsotakis said in a recent interview.

So far, 34 employees of the railway company have been sued, two of whom are in pre-trial detention for "manslaughter through negligence."

Translation by Iurie Tataru

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