Greece’s main opposition party, PASOK, has united several political parties to submit a motion to Greek Parliament, calling for a no-confidence vote against the ruling New Democracy government for the second time in a year.
The motion, expected to be submitted today in parliament, follows mass protests across Greece on Friday, where demonstrators expressed outrage over what they see as the government’s continued mishandling of the Tempi railway disaster and the slow delivery of justice in its aftermath.
A Unified Opposition
According to sources, PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis circulated a draft of the no-confidence motion to other opposition parties on Monday night. Following consultations, PASOK, SYRIZA, Nea Aristera (New Left), and Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom) signed a 16-page agreement outlining the government’s responsibility, mistakes, and omissions in handling the Tempi tragedy. A final paragraph was added which falls outside of the scope of the Tempi disaster, addressing the cost of living crisis in Greece.
Steps Towards the No-Confidence Vote
The process begins at 11 am on Wednesday with a scheduled pre-agenda debate on Tempi in Parliament. After the debate, as agreed late Tuesday night among the progressive parties, the no-confidence motion will be officially submitted.
Once submitted, Parliament will dedicate the next three days to the proceedings, suspending all other voting.
The Significance of the Vote
This marks the second time in a year that PASOK has mobilized political parties against New Democracy over Tempi, despite lacking the votes for the motion to pass.
Last March, PASOK filed a similar motion following the leak of audio recordings that contradicted the official narrative of the disaster. However, New Democracy’s parliamentary majority ensured its defeat.
While no-confidence motions have led to the crumbling of governments across Europe this past year, this new motion is again unlikely to succeed as New Democracy still retains a parliamentary majority.
The most likely outcome is that Mitsotakis will feel compelled to oust some of New Democracy’s top political leaders- again. Moreover, it may continue the gradual erosion of support for Mitsotakis within his own New Democracy political party and further strengthen PASOK’s position as the main opposition force.
On that note, PASOK has already gained an independent MP, Rania Thraskia, and is expected to welcome another today, MP Petros Pappas, raising its parliamentary strength to 33 MPs.
Androulakis’ Statement on the No-Confidence Motion
During a speech in Parliament yesterday, as a preliminary investigative committee on Tempi was being formed, Androulakis directly attacked Mitsotakis, framing the no confidence motion as a response to public outrage and new evidence, particularly a recently released report on the causes of the disaster from the National Organization for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents and Transport Safety (EODASAAM).
“The no-confidence motion is a social demand. It reflects distrust in your political unreliability. It is a response to your cover-up efforts and the shield of impunity that protects your officials.”
Presentation of the findings of the investigators of the National Organisation for the Investigation of Air and Rail Accidents and Transport Safety (EODASAM), on the causes of the explosions and the fire that followed the collision of the passenger train with the commercial train, on 28/02/2023 in Tempe, in the presence of the three-member investigation committee, in the hall of the Athens National Association of Greek Airlines (ESIEA), Athens Thursday, 27 February 2025.
(TATIANA BOLARI/EUROKINISSI)
A close PASOK associate told TO BHMA that the EODASAAM report is a damning indictment of the government’s criminal incompetence, cover-up attempts, protection of officials, and misleading of public opinion, with Mitsotakis himself playing a central role.
Meanwhile and upon the release of the EODASAAM report New Democracy responded that the report proves no cover-up took place regarding the disaster.
