Feb 27 • 11:44 UTC 🇬🇷 Greece Naftemporiki

S. Famellos: An Open Wound in Tempi - It Was Not 'Just Bad Timing'

Sokrateas Famellos, president of SYRIZA, criticized the government during a parliamentary session while marking three years since the Tempi train disaster, stating it was due to government choices and not mere coincidence.

In a recent parliamentary intervention commemorating the third anniversary of the Tempi train disaster, Sokrateas Famellos, the president of SYRIZA, referred to the incident as an "open wound" and an "national tragedy". He condemned the government for its handling of the situation, asserting that the disaster should not be dismissed as a moment of bad luck or a simple human error, but rather as a consequence of deliberate governmental policies. According to Famellos, there were multiple warnings about the potential dangers that were ignored by the government.

Famellos pointed out the failures in the safety mechanisms of the railway system, including the malfunctioning of the traffic control system and the lack of proper maintenance and staffing at key stations. He explicitly referenced a statement made by a minister shortly before the tragedy, who claimed it was shameful to raise concerns about railway safety. This, he argued, illustrates a governmental negligence that directly contributed to the disaster.

In closing, Famellos demanded accountability from the government and called for a shift away from a state apparatus focused on cover-ups, urging that the safety of railways must be prioritized to prevent future tragedies. The remarks highlight ongoing concerns about the state of public transportation safety in Greece and the demand for governmental responsibility and reform.

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