After a train crash: Conservatives in Athens survive the vote of no confidence. The WHO extends negotiations on a global pandemic agreement

Just over a year after the serious train accident in Greece that left 57 dead and dozens injured, the investigation is making waves: the issue reached parliament this week. After a three-day, sometimes stormy debate, the 300-member House rejected a vote of no confidence in the government of conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis late Thursday evening. 159 MPs voted against the opposition motion. 141 parliamentarians voted in favor, the parliamentary presidium announced. This means that Mitsotakis’ government will remain in power. The social democratic party Pasok requested the vote of no confidence and received the support of all opposition parties.

On the night of February 28, 2023, a freight train collided with an Intercity train near the central Greek city of Larisa. Among the victims were many young people who wanted to return to their university after a holiday. The Larisa station master admitted to the judiciary that he had sent the Intercity on the wrong track.

The opposition accused the government of manipulating evidence. Immediately after the accident, the media quoted an alleged radio conversation between the station master and one of the drivers involved, which showed that only the station master was to blame – and therefore human error. However, the leaked recording of the conversation turned out to be fake. This was done, the opposition claims, to cover up shortcomings and omissions in the entire Greek railway system and those responsible within the Ministry of Transport. “It was not an accident, it was a crime,” some opposition MPs shouted, repeatedly interrupting the debate, as Greek television showed.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis admitted that the state was partly responsible for the malfunctioning of railway safety systems and that this was also the reason for the accident. “But if the station manager had done his job correctly, the accident would not have occurred,” he said. The judiciary has established this and that is why the station master is in custody.

Now the judiciary has the floor. The investigation to date has shown that the condition of the rail network was dire and that safety measures were poor. The Larisa station manager and other railway employees are accused of negligent homicide. It is still unclear when the incident will be heard in court. Lawyers told the German news agency that the trial could start as early as this summer. (saw/sda/dpa)