By Renee Maltezou
ATHENS – Greece’s centre-right government on Friday survived a no-confidence vote over a deadly 2023 train crash, as protests flared demanding political accountability over Greece’s worst rail disaster.
Centre-left, leftist and independent lawmakers on Wednesday submitted a motion saying the government had lost its popular mandate, a week after hundreds of thousands took to the streets demanding justice for the 57 victims in the crash, most of them students. It was the biggest protest in Greece in years.
The opposition has accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government of shirking responsibility over the crash, failing to fix critical safety gaps in the railway, and covering up evidence that would help shed light into the causes of the disaster.
The government, which was re-elected after the train crash in 2023 and controls 156 seats in the 300-seat parliament, has denied any wrongdoing.
A majority of 157 lawmakers rejected the motion on Friday night. Just before the vote, Mitsotakis ruled out an early election, saying the country – which is emerging from a debt crisis – would reward his economic policy.
“In 2027, the Greek people will confirm once again their confidence in our government, as our parliamentary group will confirm its confidence in the government today,” he said.
Thousands of protesters rallied peacefully in central Athens as the debate progressed. When Mitsotakis took the floor in the chamber, three people shouted “Shame” before being removed by security. Outside parliament, clashes broke out between hooded demonstrators who hurled petrol bombs at police that responded with teargas to disperse them.
The train crash has become one of the biggest challenges for the government since it came to power, hurting its approval ratings. It has also fuelled anger among Greeks over the immunity politicians enjoy under the constitution. A judicial investigation into the train crash is in progress.
To appease the public, Mitsotakis told parliament that ahead of a constitutional amendment, he would propose an edit of the article that protects politicians from prosecution. He also reiterated a pledge to increase wages.
This week he promised to modernise the railway by 2027.
(Editing by Deepa Babington)
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