The Association of Judges and Prosecutors in Greece has issued a statement underlining its commitment to uncovering the truth in the Tempe train crash investigation, stating that "the demand for justice, which for millions of citizens is a request, is for us a duty." The statement comes amid public outcry over the handling of the case, following accusations of a cover-up and political interference. It also contrasts with recent comments by the President of the Supreme Court, Ioanna Klapa, who indirectly criticised Maria Karystianou, President of the Tempe Victims’ Relatives Association, after her intervention in the case.
“A heavy debt on our shoulders”
The Association’s statement acknowledges widespread public frustration over the slow progress of the judicial investigation into the disaster, which claimed 57 lives.
“In the name of the deceased passengers, the Greek people who thirst for truth, the democratic institutions whose effectiveness is being questioned, and Justice, which derives its authority from its decisions, we feel the heavy debt that falls on our shoulders,” it reads.
It highlights the mass protests that took place across Greece in recent days, as thousands took to the streets demanding accountability. “The human river that blocked the streets of all Greek cities a few days ago demanding the revelation of the truth actively expresses a stable social stake in our ability to do our job freely and independently, without fear. And this, for Justice, is a source of strength.”
Criticism of PM’s intervention
The judges and prosecutors also reiterated their opposition to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ intervention in the case, which they had publicly condemned in 2023. They referred specifically to a letter sent by Mitsotakis to then-Supreme Court Prosecutor Isidoros Dogiakos on 6 March 2023, in which he urged that the case be handled at the highest investigative level.
“We have repeatedly rejected all kinds of suggestions to judicial officers, regardless of their source or influence,” the statement reads. “We did not hesitate to publicly express our protest against the Prime Minister’s letter, considering it a direct violation of the principle of the separation of powers and an indirect undermining of the prestige of Justice.”
The role of judicial independence
The Association emphasised that the judiciary must operate beyond political and economic influence.
“Citizens can be sure that Justice will respond to the just social demand for the revelation of the truth—not because we live in a utopian world where there are no powerful interests, nor because there are no political aspirations, nor because this case does not reflect chronic pathologies in our political and economic system, but precisely because Justice was established to exist and function beyond all of this.”
The judges and prosecutors also pointed to long-standing structural issues within the Greek judicial system, calling for reforms to improve efficiency and independence. They criticised the failure to properly staff the judicial police with expert personnel, arguing that Greece lags behind other European countries in terms of speed and flexibility in judicial investigations.
“We are confronted with these systemic failures daily, and those handling the Tempe case must do so to an extreme degree,” they concluded.
The Tempe disaster remains one of Greece’s most tragic and politically charged cases, with victims’ families and large sections of society demanding full accountability. The judiciary now faces the challenge of navigating public pressure, political scrutiny, and deep-seated institutional shortcomings as it moves forward with the investigation.
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