Late Thursday evening, the Greek Parliament convened to vote on a motion of no confidence against the conservative government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The social democratic party Pasok initiated the vote, with all opposition parties supporting it. Despite the efforts of the opposition, the motion was ultimately rejected, with 159 MPs voting against it and 141 in favor.
The focus of the no-confidence motion was a serious train accident that occurred about a year ago near Larisa, resulting in the deaths of 57 people. The station manager in Larisa confessed to directing a train onto the wrong track, leading to the collision. However, there were allegations that evidence was manipulated and radio conversations between train drivers and a station master were leaked to shift blame onto the station manager.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis admitted that there was some responsibility on behalf of the state due to inadequate safety systems but emphasized that the actions of the station manager were crucial in causing the accident. An investigation revealed poor conditions of railway network and safety precautions. The date for court proceedings regarding the accident remains uncertain.
The tragic incident resulted in protests and clashes erupting in Athens, reflecting its severity. The incident has highlighted concerns about Greece’s railway system and calls for accountability and improvements in safety measures.
