Breathing Room for ND: Karoni’s Report and Political Implications

A new cycle of intense political confrontation was sparked by the long-awaited expertise of Professor Nikos Karoni from the National Technical University of Athens regarding the Tempi train disaster. He attributed the explosion in the train collision, which claimed 57 lives, to overheated silicone oils. The government breathed a sigh of relief as its declining trajectory halted, and New Democracy (ND) recorded a slight rebound, reaching 31-32% in June according to secret polls conducted after Easter. Public perception of government cover-up allegations dropped from 80% to 65%. The battle ahead is to restore cohesion, aiming for 64-65% support, which could translate into a stable 31-32% approval rating. From September, with a new package of support measures and tax reductions announced by the Prime Minister at the Thessaloniki International Fair, ND hopes to maintain this momentum. Meanwhile, opposition parties are left grappling with the report, accused of exploiting the national tragedy. Legal proceedings against former Deputy Transport Minister Christos Triantopoulos and pre-trial investigations concerning Karamanlis are set to intensify. Despite controversies, the government aims to focus on daily issues, leveraging economic policies like tax cuts and wage increases. Social media has been flooded with fake news, complicating the narrative. During his visit to Berlin, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized Greece’s recovery post-austerity, earning respect from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, concerns over defense agreements with Turkey’s Erdogan have surfaced, prompting Mitsotakis to advocate for European defense autonomy. Amidst these developments, whispers of a new religious party emerge, led by controversial MP Nikos Papadopoulos, who gained notoriety for his actions at the National Gallery.