Rescuers stand close to particles of trains after a collision in Tempe, about 376 kilometres (235 miles) north of Athens, close to Larissa metropolis, Greece, on March 1. [Giannis Papanikos/AP]
Parliament’s investigative committee for the Tempe rail catastrophe wrapped up its deliberations, with the findings submitted by the ruling New Democracy social gathering being permitted by the Home majority. One of many key conclusions that has emerged is that seven separate violations of the rail operator’s laws have been confirmed. One other case that had been introduced earlier than Parliament involved a prepare that ran a purple cease mild close to Athens on Christmas Eve in 2023, fortunately with out inflicting any casualties.
In an interview with Kathimerini’s on-line version, European Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi pressured the necessity for justice within the Tempe tragedy. She urged that the legislation defending ministers from prosecution wants to alter as the present authorized framework in Greece prevents the judiciary from doing its job correctly.
She stated that her workplace is bringing legal prices in opposition to 23 state functionaries however has been unable to research the previous ministers concerned within the matter as a result of provisions of the Structure. The main target of her workplace’s investigation is on the place the cash for upgrading Greece’s rail community went. “Primarily based on the accessible proof, if the mission had been carried out on time and correctly, this tragedy would by no means have occurred,” she says.
In brief, what all of it boils all the way down to is violations – from whether or not the cash earmarked for vital infrastructure and security tools on the Greek railways was spent as supposed to how the principles designed for making certain passenger security have been bent. What number of “violations” does it take earlier than the “purple strains” which might be bandied about so freely are crossed? And if demise is the factor that breaches the road, what occurs then? Are there penalties, or is the road merely pushed slightly additional away to make sure there is no such thing as a fallout for whichever authorities official comes within the line of fireplace?
A public opinion ballot on the Tempe tragedy that was carried out only a few days in the past discovered that 77% of respondents consider that there’s evident political duty for the crash and likewise of a political cover-up of the affair. In addition they consider that little has been finished to stop an identical tragedy from taking place once more.
When the opposition proves unable to carry the federal government to account, the residents assume that function. A public opinion ballot doesn’t ship a message; it’s the message. It’s society’s manner of exhibiting that it has purple strains too.
