Greek centre-right loses ground, leftist opposition rises in new poll

7 months ago 31

Amid an intense debate over a train accident that killed 57 people, a new poll has found that the ruling centre-right New Democracy party (EPP) is losing significant support ahead of the EU elections, while the main opposition leftist Syriza (EU Left) is gaining ground.

According to a poll published on Thursday on Openthe TV channel, the developments over a train accident that killed 57 people seem to have had a significant political impact.

Notably, the poll suggests that in the vote estimate ahead of the EU elections, New Democracy scores 31.3% (from 36.2%), followed by Syriza (15.9% from 11.4%), while socialist Pasok ranks third with 13.4% (from 12.5%).

Last week, the Greek government survived a no-confidence vote pushed forward by the opposition over the train accident. Analysts who conducted the poll estimated that the decreasing support for the ruling party is primarily linked to handling the case.

One year ago, an intercity passenger train travelling from Athens to the northern city of Thessaloniki collided at high speed with a cargo train outside the city of Larissa in central Greece, killing 57 people, mainly young students.

Amid significant delays in investigating the case, the victims’ relatives started a campaign collecting 1.3 million signatures for a resolution to hold politicians related to the accident responsible.

The victims’ relatives also claim that there are ongoing efforts to cover up the train “crime”.

The poll suggests that public opinion is not satisfied with the government’s handling of the case, as eight out of 10 have a negative or rather negative opinion.

In addition, an overwhelming 85.8% agreed with the actions of the victims families against the ‘cover up’.

The government insists that there is no cover-up and attributes the accident to “human error”.

“The government has confidence in the Judiciary and in what it decides. I repeat, there was no attempt to cover up; we do not co-govern with any interest. Everyone in their role. We are all judged by the citizens”, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said.

Press reports last month suggested that the investigation was hindered by the authorities. After the accident, an area of about two acres was filled with gravel and concrete, going against traditional research protocol and meaning the site where the accident occurred was “contaminated.”

In addition, a report by To Vima journal revealed last week that the audio files of the conversations between train workers the night of the accident were “distorted” to attribute the accident to human error.

Amid questions over who had access to the audio files and who altered them, the Greek justice launched an investigation this week.

‘Immoral and shameless lies’

Speaking at the EU Parliament during an event earlier this week attended by Euractiv, Maria Karystianou, who lost her child during the accident and now represents the victims’ relatives, said Greece’s rule of law is at risk.

“I am sorry that we are coming [in Brussels] in 2024 to restore truths that were said and implemented in our country 2,500 years ago”, Karystianou noted.

Karystianou said that for years, politicians have expressed “immoral and shameless lies” about the condition of Greek railways.

“The crime in Tempe demonstrates at its worst the corruption in the railways as part of a larger corrupt system as it has been proven to date”, she added.

She also attacked former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis, saying he is hiding behind his parliamentary immunity to avoid his responsibilities.

She said Karamanlis was indifferent to people’s safety as he ignored repeated warnings from train workers’ associations before the accident, suggesting that the railways had severe safety problems that needed to be addressed.

Karystianou also referred to the 2014 “717 contract”, which concerned the reconstruction and upgrade of the signalling system and the remote control of the Athens – Thessaloniki – Promachona railway.

If the contract were implemented, experts have admitted that the accident would have been avoided.

The “717 contract” was never implemented, and the signalling and surveillance system is still not in place. Meanwhile, Greek railways are still being operated manually.

The EU prosecutor Laura Kövesi, who recently revealed that authorities are posing obstacles in investigating the accident, is scrutinising the contract as it was mainly funded by the EU.

In Athens, her public intervention was not perceived in positive light with Greek prime minister saying that Kövesi exceeded the limit of her competence.