Greek Minister of National Defence Nikos Dendias firmly rejected allegations of a government-led cover-up in the investigation of the Tempi train disaster during a parliamentary session on Tuesday. Addressing Parliament while a bill from his ministry was under discussion, Dendias directly responded to opposition criticisms, particularly those voiced by Zoe Konstantopoulou, which suggested efforts to obscure facts in the case that claimed 57 lives.
The Tempi tragedy, one of the deadliest train accidents in Greek history, remains a point of political and public contention.
“I am institutionally and personally obliged to repel the accusation,” said Dendias. “The last party that would benefit from covering up the Tempi affair—no matter how counterintuitive it may sound—is the government. For us, shedding absolute light on this affair is a matter of political survival.”
The Minister declared that the administration is dedicated to uncovering the full truth behind the incident, stating that “justice will be served and there will be ample light, without the slightest suspicion of a cover-up, so that the country can heal the wound, learn the lessons, and move forward.”
Dendias also emphasized the importance of maintaining public trust in Greece’s independent judiciary. He warned that accusations of a cover-up not only undermine the government but also erode confidence in the justice system. “It is extremely dangerous if Greek society ceases to have confidence in the judiciary. I cannot imagine what could replace, in a functioning society, the belief that justice can be delivered—especially when 57 human lives are at stake.”
Additionally, Dendias responded to a second major claim—that the government attempted to influence the judiciary’s handling of the case. Calling it “the most serious accusation,” he categorically denied any such efforts. “As a former Minister of Justice, I have a deep respect for the integrity of Greek judges. The idea that the New Democracy government would attempt to influence the judicial process is not only false but fundamentally incompatible with who we are.”
Earlier this week judicial authorities in Larissa submitted a major case file to Parliament that raises questions about possible criminal responsibility of former Transport Minister Kostas A. Karamanlis.
