Kostas Genidounias has been re-elected president of the Panhellenic Union of Traction Personnel (PEPE), following today’s meeting of the union’s board of directors. The decision comes shortly after his dismissal by Hellenic Train, despite his long-standing role as a prominent voice on railway safety issues in Greece.

In a brief statement posted on the morning of 19 May, Genidounias thanked his colleagues for their trust, writing:

“Thank you to the members of the board for their confidence. We move forward – all of us together.”

The board also confirmed the new composition of its leadership team, based on the results of the recent union elections. The “Synexelixi” faction, which has dominated the union for five consecutive terms, once again came out on top with 54% of the vote. The group secured six seats on the board, four at the federation level, and eight in the council of representatives.

The elections and today’s vote come amid heightened tensions following Genidounias’ dismissal. On the afternoon of Wednesday 30 April, Hellenic Train officially terminated him via a legal notice, citing no public explanation. The move has been widely interpreted as retaliation for his outspoken criticism of the company, particularly in relation to the Tempe train disaster.

Key witness in Tempe case silenced by parliament

Genidounias is expected to testify as a key witness in the upcoming trial over the fatal incident in Tempe. He has consistently called attention to critical safety failings within Greece’s railway system and accused both the company and government of attempting to obscure the truth behind the tragedy.

During the parliamentary inquiry into the Tempe crash, the ruling New Democracy party declined to call him as a witness, despite requests from opposition MPs and Genidounias himself. This was considered a deliberate effort to silence a key figure who had repeatedly warned about safety risks well before the disaster occurred.

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