Two years after the train disaster: protests for justice in Greece!

Two years after the train disaster: protests for justice in Greece!

Tempi, Griechenland - Today, on February 28, 2025, people in Greece commemorate the tragic train accident that took place two years ago in Tempi, near Larisa. In the collision between a freight train and an intercity passenger train, 57 people lost their lives, including many students. The anger of the bereaved and the population is particularly directed against the authorities, which in their opinion did not adequately ensure justice. In several cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki and Larissa, tens of thousands of people protest in order to set an example to clarify the tragedy.

in Athens, the authorities counted 170,000 demonstrators by the early afternoon. Among the slogans who called the protesters, was the particularly concise: "I don't get oxygen!", An allusion to the last words of a victim. This illustrates the emotional dismay that has left the accident. A newly published 178-page investigation report has also shown that most victims died not only in the collision, but also in a subsequent fire. It is believed that high -explosive materials may have been transported.

The protests and their backgrounds

The mass protests that can be observed in response to this catastrophe after the accident are also an expression of the deep distrust of the population towards the government. Polls show that the majority of the Greeks are convinced that the authorities do not adequately inform the disaster. The Greek state president Katerina Sakellaropoulou described the tragedy as the "dark side in our history". The trust in the judiciary is also shaken because many bereaved have the feeling that they are not taken seriously.

The center-right government under Kyriako's Mitsotakis was re-elected three and a half months after the accident. This promises reforms in the railway network, but so far there is hardly any progress. Critics, especially from the opposition, accuse the government of destroying evidence and covering up the circumstances of the accident. The chairman of the Pasok opposition party, Nikos Androulakis, announced a vote of no confidence in Parliament to force political action.

claims and doubts about the investigation

The ongoing investigations on the accident have raised many questions among the population. According to reports, there have already been indications that authorities may have manipulated evidence, including the alleged additional concretion of the scene of the accident. In addition, certain places were cut out in published recordings of train communication. While the investigation extends against more than 40 suspects, there are violent allegations of the poor security standards in the Greek rail network, which are considered as a result of years of neglect.

These protests, which are supported by numerous students and teachers, reflect broader dissatisfaction with state leadership and their responsibility for security in public transport. Tempi's tragedy is perceived as an example of the last failure, which is reinforced by the continuing uncertainty in the rail system. Another incident with an incorrectly placed softness underlines the still existing security problems. The pressure on the government is growing, especially in view of the large number of young people who have lost their lives in the accident.