Government Takes Aim at PASOK Over Tempi Tragedy Cover-Up Allegations

The Greek government is attempting to turn the tables on the opposition, using a report from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) regarding the role of silicone oils in the tragic fireball incident in Tempi. A government official stated to newsit.gr that ‘the cover-up is the work of the opposition. They tried to obscure the truth with unsubstantiated theories about the Tempi tragedy, aiming to incite public anger against the government… Their only goal was political gain.’ Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis echoed this sentiment during a health conference, stating, ‘It turns out lies have short legs. The rest will be said when the time comes… Justice will ultimately evaluate what happened and what did not.’ The government’s focus has been on PASOK and its leader, Nikos Androulakis, despite other parties being involved. This strategy aims to highlight perceived alliances between PASOK and more extreme populist voices, targeting moderate voters who have distanced themselves from Androulakis. Meanwhile, the government is leveraging the NTUA findings to counter allegations of negligence and restore public trust, especially concerning railway safety initiatives. In the case of former Deputy Minister Karamanlis, the government has pledged not to obstruct any further investigations if the justice system identifies misconduct.