All Against All in the Tempi Train Disaster Investigation: ND Faces Internal Strife

The National Organization for the Investigation of Aviation and Railway Accidents is a state-funded entity paid for by Greek taxpayers. Its establishment and assignment to investigate the national tragedy of the Tempi train disaster were both justified. The organization bore significant responsibility, tasked with answering the pressing ‘whys’ tormenting the parents and relatives of the 57 victims—mostly aged between 18 and 28—who never returned home from the 2023 Carnival weekend. Amid conflicting statements, Christos Papadimitriou, the head of the organization, assured that he neither received nor would accept any interference. However, on February 27, just before the second anniversary of the tragedy, five representatives of the organization held a lengthy press conference confirming rumors about flammable material in the commercial train cars causing the explosion. This finding became ammunition against the government until two foreign universities debunked it. Subsequent revelations forced Papadimitriou to admit he wanted expert opinions from foreign universities but was overruled. The situation escalated into a chaotic theater of the absurd, leaving citizens unsure of what to believe. Meanwhile, the government faced criticism for not freezing operations immediately after the disaster, allowing conspiracy theories to flourish. As political tensions mount, even within New Democracy (ND), internal conflicts are emerging, with some MPs criticizing ministers and others defending them, creating further division.