Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has addressed the mass demonstrations marking two years since the Tempe train disaster, attempting to balance an admission of state failure with a defence of his government’s handling of the crisis. In a social media post on Sunday, he acknowledged the dysfunction of the state apparatus and promised a modernised railway system, while reiterating his call for trust in the judiciary and defending police actions during Friday’s protests.

Acknowledging state failures—without full accountability

Mitsotakis described the mass protests as a sign of “great social sensitivity” and admitted that citizens were right to demand truth and justice. However, while he conceded that the disaster was not merely a result of human error—seemingly contradicting the government’s earlier stance—his statement stopped short of acknowledging political responsibility for the safety failures and systemic mismanagement that led to the crash.

He maintained that “Justice alone” must be allowed to do its work, dismissing public scrutiny and political criticism as undue interference:

“In a State of Law, it alone has the responsibility, the prestige, and the ability to shed light on a case that has hurt us so much. Neither the parties nor the people’s courts…”

Despite growing public distrust in the judicial process—fuelled by allegations of evidence tampering and political interference—Mitsotakis insisted that the judiciary should be left to act independently.

Defending police tactics at protests

While acknowledging the unprecedented scale of Friday’s rallies, Mitsotakis also sought to downplay reports of excessive force by police, framing their response as necessary to maintain order:

“The police did their job professionally, preventing larger incidents and the spread of violence. Our homeland does not want to return to the bankrupt past with divisive protests.”

His remarks come amid widespread criticism of police tactics, including the use of tear gas in confined spaces, targeted attacks on journalists, and mass detentions.

A belated commitment to railway safety

Mitsotakis admitted that Greece’s railway infrastructure is “far from what we want” and pledged a “complete and safe Athens-Thessaloniki line by 2027”—a promise that will likely be met with scepticism given the failure to implement critical safety upgrades before the Tempe crash.

“This is a personal commitment. So that we do not forget Tempe. But also so that we never experience it again.”

His government has previously faced backlash over its handling of railway safety, with critics pointing to longstanding neglect, a lack of accountability, and a failure to address the root causes of the disaster.

With the political fallout from Tempe far from over and new revelations continuing to emerge, Mitsotakis’ reassurances may not be enough to quell public anger. As demonstrations intensify and pressure mounts, the fight for justice for the victims remains a defining issue in Greece.

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