Anger in Greece over rail disaster prompts opposition plan to challenge government

ATHENS — 

Three Greek absorption parties vowed Friday to situation the country’s center-right authorities with a censure question implicit its handling of a deadly obstruction catastrophe astir 2 years ago.

The pledge was prompted by mounting nationalist choler implicit delays successful the enquiry and allegations of a cover-up that the authorities powerfully denies.

Fifty-seven radical were killed — including assemblage students returning from a vacation — erstwhile a rider bid collided head-on with a freight bid connected Feb. 28, 2023, adjacent Tempe successful bluish Greece.

On Sunday, relatives of those killed led protests successful dozens of cities, directed astatine the blimpish authorities of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Apart from rallies held successful Athens, Thessaloniki and different Greek cities, protests were besides organized by Greek communities successful Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels and different European cities.

Sokratis Famellos, person of the left-wing Syriza party, said extracurricular parliament that helium sided with 2 different absorption parties, Pasok and the New Left, to question a no-confidence vote.

“A associated inaugural by progressive parties for a censure question is indispensable today. The grounds is there, and nine demands accountability,” Famellos said Friday.

Although a censure question is improbable to airs a nonstop menace to the government, it could assistance forge bonds successful Greece’s fractured opposition. Lawmakers from the 3 parties confirmed they were progressive successful discussions to hold connected the timing of the motion.

Investigations person faced delays, with critics accusing authorities of obstructing justice. While immoderate railway officials person been charged, nary elder governmental figures person been held accountable, further intensifying nationalist scrutiny.

Speaking to ministers astatine a Cabinet meeting, Mitsotakis vowed to flooded the “turbulence” facing the government.

“This hard week comes to a adjacent nether the shadiness of the Tempe tragedy,” helium said successful a televised address. “We are present entering the last signifier of investigations into this profoundly achy nationalist trauma.”

The contention overshadowed an ongoing parliamentary process to elite a caller president. A government-backed candidate, Constantine Tassoulas, failed to triumph the cross-party enactment needed to unafraid the presidency successful a 2nd circular of voting successful parliament Friday.

The 65-year-old erstwhile talker of the assembly is expected to triumph successful aboriginal rounds scheduled adjacent period erstwhile the threshold is lowered.