Mitsotakis in the pre-agenda discussion in Parliament – They want to turn Tempi into a point of division

With the government under continued pressure over the Tempi case, Kyriakos Mitsotakis is currently speaking at the podium in Parliament during a special session where political leaders will first present their initial statements in the pre-agenda discussion. This will be followed by the motion of no confidence announced by PASOK, which will also be supported by SYRIZA, Nea Aristera and Plefsi Eleftherias.

Main points of the Prime Minister’s speech.

The second issue is who will maintain the railway lines. The solution is an intergovernmental agreement with a foreign organization that will support OSE in the maintenance and safety of the network.

Two points in the government’s plan: First, the country will renew the rolling stock on the Athens-Thessaloniki main line by 2027.

We have spoken about what we have done, such as completing the remote control system, and how Daniel forced us to redo 20% of it from the beginning.

I want to ask, have you heard any proposals from opposition parties on how we will have safer railways? None. I want to hear your plan for Greek trains. Mr. Pappas, you did not proceed with the privatization of OSE to Hellenic Train—please, tell us your plan.

The greatest responsibility is how the tragedy of Tempi will be illuminated and how the government will work to restore the trains in Greece.

The most important risk is that the tragedy will lose its path toward catharsis. I want to frame this discussion within the larger context of international developments. We are living in historically significant times. Everything we’ve experienced in terms of security systems since 1945 may be overturned. The U.S. is imposing tariffs on its closest allies. Tomorrow, I will be at the European Council to discuss EU proposals, which are a complete confirmation of Greece’s positions on how we need fiscal flexibility for defense spending. In this environment, some are navel-gazing, targeting the government as the greatest threat to the country.

“Normality is never an opportunity,” said some of your officials who transitioned to the New Left. In front of you stands a majority that does not want to put society in danger. This majority will judge us in 2027. One thing is certain in the face of difficulty: We will never back down.

In a period of international instability, internal stability is crucial. It would be catastrophic if this were to happen in Greece. And of course, there are those who, from different starting points, find common ground. You don’t care about the truth; you seek a reason to exist. You have collapsed in the polls and are now seeking a reason to exist.

During the Memorandum period, we experienced such illusions. We lived through protests in the squares, fires, and the murders at Marfin. I want to believe that, as a society, we have matured. I am certain that the majority of citizens do not want us to return to those times. There are forces in this chamber who want to turn the collective sorrow into their own political tool, to politicize a tragedy to hurt me and sow distrust. But this not only erodes power but also the normalcy of the country.

This is not just a Greek phenomenon. In Spain, the socialist government faced the same situation after a natural disaster. I have no problem with anyone participating in public debate, and I will continue to defend the right to react where it is threatened. Let the masks of the internet come off once and for all.

It is clear that some rushed to exploit the climate in Greek society. When boots from abroad appeared, writing in other languages until two months ago, and suddenly switched to Greek to spread the most vulgar content about Tempi. We will find them, and we will identify those who coordinated this effort.

All that I’ve said concerns the risk of society being divided by rumors that create an artificial reality. Some thought everything could be said and heard. Addressing such a sick climate is not easy. Doubt poisons everything without killing anything. Various television “experts” appear and comment on everything. And in this context, I want to refer to the EODASAAM report’s remarks about the media. We are not saying this; it is said by an independent organization that criticizes the simplistic way in which the media reproduced conspiracy theories. It highlights the ease with which everyone rushed to view the case from the important criminal aspect but not on how we would achieve safer trains. The creation of this reality is the work of many. We will have a lot to say soon about the industry of boots, fake accounts spreading false content. We saw an explosion before the second anniversary, Ms. Konstantopoulou.

Your MPs, Mr. Androulakis, gave a positive vote for the Attorney General of the Supreme Court.

For Mr. Famellos and SYRIZA—the SYRIZA of 13-0, of Mr. Pappas, of Mr. Papangelopoulos? And for Mr. Androulakis, who has submitted proposals to change the leadership selection process for the Ministry of Justice? You gave me the strong impression that you weren’t even aware that this Parliament has passed a provision allowing the plenary sessions of the courts to express an opinion on the composition of the judiciary’s leadership—something your own party voted for. You didn’t even know that, Mr. Androulakis—so diligent.

Charges have been filed against 43 individuals. I wonder who really wants this trial to start and who is doing everything possible to delay it. As far as we are concerned, we have expedited the process through legislative interventions, established EODASAAM, and ensured that a courtroom will be available. In the case of Golden Dawn, some people spent five years just looking for a courtroom to hold the trial.

And now you claim that the trial is being delayed to cover for the guilty? That is a huge lie.

I know there is skepticism about the Justice system. We must strengthen it. If we don’t, then what? Should we resort to statements like “take the law into our own hands”?

We may have underestimated the impact of these theories that you circulated, starting with you, Ms. Konstantopoulou. At times, we may have dealt with certain issues with a sense of guilt. We failed to convince society that the recovery of the railways was our top priority. We did not explain the difficulties we faced. We did not highlight the many things that were done. When the remote control system was completed in September 2023, no one learned about it.

Or the myth that the former Speaker of Parliament and now elected President of the Republic supposedly hid a case file. Everyone knows that anything that reaches Parliament is available to MPs. Ms. Gerovasili confirmed this. On October 23, 2024, a PASOK MP announced the relevant arrival of the case file right in front of you.

A year ago, you had also pushed for a motion of no confidence over the so-called “editing scandal,” which the Polytechnic’s report later proved never existed—but you never came forward to say that.

And recently, the unacceptable and vile insinuations made by Mr. Famellos regarding the death of a person in Larissa.

Our first concern was how to care for the injured, followed by the tragic task of identifying the dead. Meanwhile, Mr. Velopoulos was claiming that a “phantom” train car had been vaporized. Then he claimed that there was a xylene cargo. These are all theories that many of you spread. And even more macabre—linking the tragedy to the car accident of a former stationmaster. What is all this?

Over the past two years, an entire set of myths and lies has developed. Where do I even start? From the claims that the number of victims was not 57 but 150, Mr. Velopoulos? That we were supposedly hiding bodies?

Meanwhile, political dialogue continues, which is why we agreed to the Triantopoulos pre-investigation. We believe the charges are baseless, but we consider it a step toward seriousness in establishing the real facts. Very few mentioned the legal aspect of Triantopoulos’ referral yesterday. Perhaps, Mr. Androulakis, because you were not so sure about how legally sound your proposal was.

To Ms. Konstantopoulou regarding vacations: March 5 is the anniversary of Stalin’s death—you don’t need to honor him in this way.

I would like to hear from the party leaders whether they accept, in principle, that this text is objective.

The Belgian expert wrote that what happened was due to a lack of experience, and that is the truth about a cover-up that never existed—because you never explained whom we supposedly tried to cover up or why.

The report refutes the baseless and personally very offensive theory of an alleged cover-up, which was to be used as an argument in the motion of no confidence. In point 571, it states that no indication of political interference was found, either in the field or in the committee’s work.

The report identifies the causes of the accident in wrongful actions. It describes the long-standing deficiencies of the railways that contributed to the tragedy. It outlines the actions of the state mechanism. It fails to provide a substantiated answer regarding the fire that followed the collision, referring it for further investigation. It includes 17 recommendations. It is not flattering for the government, but it confirms the view that, on that night, human errors collided with the shortcomings of the Greek state. This is what the report of EODASAAM states.

We have the EODASAAM report, compiled with the assistance of European experts and without any political interference. The first page mentions the 57 dead. It serves as a guide to ensure that we never experience such a tragedy again.

However, there were also protesters who demanded the government’s resignation. But I believe that most were asking for Greece to rise.

The powerful voice of the demonstrations is heard by us. Hundreds of thousands took to the streets and squares. Let us agree on what they demanded. They asked for justice, safe transportation for the country, and a state capable of protecting its citizens.

I propose ways for the state to overcome pathologies that have accompanied it since its very foundation.

I highlight the danger of political life sinking into a swamp of doubt. And this is the greatest danger to democracy.

I affirm the government’s commitment to truth and justice and respond, even briefly, to the storm of fake news.

Some are using this tragedy as a battering ram without offering an alternative governance proposal.

We are experiencing such moments today. Certain circles seek to turn mourning into division—a tragedy reduced to a political slogan.

We must confront expediency; we owe it to the relatives of the 57 victims of the Tempi tragedy. They do not deserve to become a cog in a grim attempt at exploitation that shook all of Greece.

They demand accountability even in circumstances where it gets lost in confusion.

Source: pagenews.gr