ATHENS: Greece’s center-right government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has narrowly survived a motion of no-confidence, following intense scrutiny over its handling of the country’s deadliest rail disaster.
Late Thursday, Parliament voted 159-141 against the motion brought by four left-wing opposition parties, accusing the government of obstructing the investigation into the tragic rail crash that claimed the lives of 57 persons, many of whom were university students returning from spring break.
The fatal incident, which occurred on February 28, 2023, was the result of a passenger train colliding with an oncoming freight train mistakenly placed on the same track. Despite widespread public outcry and demands for accountability, the government has denied any wrongdoing and pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing judicial inquiry into the crash.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis, addressing lawmakers ahead of the vote, reiterated his commitment to uphold the integrity of the investigation, dismissing accusations of a cover-up. “There was no cover-up,” he asserted, questioning the efficacy of the parliamentary debate in advancing the investigation.
However, public sentiment appears to be largely critical of the government’s response to the disaster, with opinion polls indicating widespread skepticism regarding its handling of responsibilities related to the incident.
Although the government emerged victorious in the no-confidence vote, the motion highlighted rare cooperation between Greece’s center-left and left-wing parties, united in their condemnation of the government’s actions. The collaboration ahead of the European Parliament elections in June underscores the significance of the rail disaster in shaping political dynamics and alliances within Greece.
