On Wednesday 19 June, the Greek parliament approved a government-sponsored proposal restricting legal proceedings against former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanlis to a single misdemeanour charge of dereliction of duty. The decision, which effectively rules out further criminal accountability over the 2023 Tempe train crash, passed with 154 votes from ruling New Democracy MPs.

The move has drawn strong condemnation from victims’ families and sparked renewed public outcry, as it closes off the possibility of investigating Karamanlis for more serious offences in connection with Greece’s deadliest railway disaster, which killed 57 people.

An alternative proposal had been submitted by the Association of Relatives of the Victims of Tempe. It was supported by MPs from Course for Freedom, Hellenic Solution, Niki and independents affiliated with the Democracy Movement. That motion, grounded in a detailed legal memorandum, included the offence of “ultimate treason” and called for a full investigation into political responsibilities. It received only 38 votes in parliament.

The government justified its decision based on Article 86 of the Greek Constitution, which governs the prosecution of former ministers and has long been criticised for enabling political impunity.

The vote took place amid heightened tensions, with Maria Karystianou, president of the Tempe Relatives’ Association and mother of one of the victims, issuing a scathing public statement. She accused both the government and the broader political establishment of betrayal and vowed that the families would continue to pursue justice: “Your actions guide our steps. We will always be ahead of you.”

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