Tempe disaster : Greek PM shifts responsibility for train cargo misinformation to Hellenic Train and authorities
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Regarding his statement two yaers ago about the cargo carried by the freight train, Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis depicted himself as having been misled by Hellenic Train and the Fire Department. Responding to criticism over his assurance that he "knew for certain" what the train was carrying, he insisted: "I did not make a mistake—I relayed the information I had." He emphasized that Hellenic Train had provided those assurances to the Greek Parliament. However, he admitted: "With what I know today, I obviously wouldn’t have said what I said back then." He left open the possibility of setting up a Preliminary Investigative Committee if judicial authorities identified criminal responsibilities. At the same time, he criticized his own party's MPs in the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee, accusing them of political entrenchment.
Reflecting on his statement two weeks after the tragedy, he said: “This question has troubled me because, at the time, I was assured by Hellenic Train and the Fire Department that the train was carrying nothing suspicious. What seemed an improbable scenario back then may now be plausible.” He added that if Hellenic Train is found to have misled authorities, it must be held accountable both legally and politically.
On the recent public outcry over audio recordingσ from the night of the crash, Mitsotakis acknowledged: “People took to the streets, shocked by the audio—but it’s not new; it’s part of the case file. And yes, we must understand that some people on that train did not die from the collision itself.” However, he also criticized those who published the recording, claiming they were exploiting the grief of the victims’ families.
“Decisions were made on the ground. At my level, my concern was to retrieve and identify the bodies. If any operational decisions were made, I am not aware of them. All decisions were made with good intentions. There is no greater insult than being told by someone that, at that moment, I thought of covering up—what exactly would I cover up?”
On resignation and government accountability
In response to criticism over former Transport Minister Kostas Ach. Karamanlis, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport at the time of the train crash, running as an MP despite the disaster, Mitsotakis argued that his candidacy did not interfere with the judicial investigation. He assured that if the case were referred to Parliament, “the government will not prevent a Preliminary Inquiry.”
Asked whether he should resign, as the Serbian Prime Minister did after a train accident in Novi Sad, he dismissed the comparison, stating: “In Greece, the minister resigned immediately. In Serbia, the Prime Minister’s role is primarily decorative. I took responsibility then, and I continue to take responsibility.” He rejected the idea that elections could serve as a means of redemption, adding: “I have always been transparent—I speak directly to the Greek people and present the reality as I understand it. Ultimately, the people will judge me at the end of my term, assessing our entire political record.”
Mitsotakis criticises Parliamentary Inquiry Committee: “I don’t believe it was Parliament’s finest moment”
The Prime Minister also discredited the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee that met after the Tempe disaster, where the government majority had repeatedly blocked key witnesses from testifying. “I don’t believe this was Parliament’s finest moment,” he said, accusing political parties of failing to see the bigger picture. “The Inquiry failed to shed light for public opinion.”
He reiterated that “all witnesses will testify in court, and that’s where we will learn the whole truth.” Acknowledging the magnitude of the tragedy, he stated: “This is a deep wound that weighs on me. Young people boarded a train and never reached their destination. I will do everything I can to uncover the truth.”
Mitsotakis also pointed to ongoing efforts to modernize Greece’s outdated railway system, which he described as “the most dysfunctional of the old public enterprises.” “We are making a major effort to restore our railways. We have invested in public transportation, and we will continue to do so,” he concluded.
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