Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Credit: Shutterstock, Alexandros Michailidis
Greece’s centre-right government is facing a no-confidence vote this week following mass protests over the 2023 train disaster that killed 57 people, most of them students.
The train crash, Greece’s worst rail disaster, has become a symbol of the country’s neglected infrastructure. A recent Pulse poll found that 56 per cent of respondents were dissatisfied with the government’s handling of the tragedy, according to Euractiv.
Opposition parties accuse Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ administration of failing to take responsibility for the tragedy and neglecting railway safety improvements.
A vote is scheduled for Friday afternoon (March 7). On Wednesday, March 5, lawmakers from the centre-left PASOK party, and leftist parties submitted a censure motion against Mitsotakis’ government during a parliamentary debate on the disaster. According to Reuters, 85 lawmakers signed a motion stating in the document: “Being aware of our duty towards society and history and towards the Greek people … we submit a motion of no-confidence against the government.”
Widespread protests and public anger in Greece
On February 28, hundreds of thousands of Greeks took to the streets, marking the second anniversary of the disaster and demanding justice for the victims. Peaceful rallies were held outside parliament, where protesters held a moment of silence and lit candles in the shape of ‘57’ to honour those lost.
Will the no-confidence vote pass in Greece?
Despite mounting public anger, the no-confidence vote is unlikely to pass, as Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party holds 156 seats in the 300-seat parliament, as reported by Reuters. Addressing parliament, Mitsotakis defended his administration, stating:
“It would be fatal if stability in Greece was threatened at this point,” he said, warning that opposition attacks could weaken the country during turbulent times.”
Mitsotakis also pledged to modernise the railway system by 2027 and confirmed that a foreign company will take over maintenance of the rail network.
Euractiv reports that conservative parties, including Greek Solution and Voice of Reason, have dismissed the motion as a political stunt, arguing that it will only unite the government instead.
The judicial investigation into the causes of the crash is expected to conclude later this year. A parliamentary committee has also been set up to examine the actions of former minister Christos Triantopoulos, who managed the aftermath of the disaster.
Triantopoulos resigned this week to support the inquiry but has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, victims’ families have criticised the government for failing to back a full parliamentary investigation. Some accused authorities of trying to hide evidence by laying gravel at the crash site shortly after the disaster, an allegation that Triantopoulos has rejected.
A report by the Air and Rail Accident Investigation Authority (HARSIA) found that the crash resulted from chronic safety failures that have yet to be properly addressed.
With further protests reportedly planned, pressure on the Greek government is far from over.
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