Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a statement on the Tempi tragedy in a social media post on Sunday.who, among other things, states that “Of course, I owe everyone, but above all the relatives of the victims, a big apology both personally and on behalf of all those who have ruled the country for years.”

The Prime Minister notes: “In Greece 2023, it is impossible for two trains to travel in opposite directions on the same line and not see anyone. We cannot, do not want and should not hide behind human errors.

In addition, he expresses readiness “the judiciary will promptly investigate the tragedy and hold it accountable”, adding that “in the next few days, the competent minister will announce an intervention to immediately improve the safety of the railways until the e-government system is completed.” “.

At the same time, he states that he will “immediately ask the European Commission and friendly countries for help in terms of know-how so that we can finally acquire modern trains” and also that he will invite “all parties to commit that in the next parliament a special committee will be set up to investigate the painful history of the Greek railways over the past twenty years.”

Prime Minister post:

“Today I would like to write about the indescribable tragedy at Tempe. No wooden words, no repetitive little things. Make an effort to put your thoughts in order, and put your feelings into words.

And I’ll start with the obvious. As prime minister, I owe everyone, but above all the families of the victims, a big APOLOGY. Both personally and on behalf of all those who have ruled the country for years. Because, indeed, in Greece 2023, it is impossible for two trains to travel in opposite directions on the same line and not notice anyone.

We cannot, will not, and should not hide behind human error. If the remote control work had been completed, then this accident would have been practically impossible. The fact that the digital control system will be fully operational in the next few months is no excuse. Opposite. My pain is further exacerbated by the fact that we did not have time to finish it before the bad happened.

Justice will quickly investigate the tragedy and hold it accountable. While in the next few days the responsible minister will announce measures to immediately improve the safety of the railways until the e-administration system is completed. Now we must support the families of the victims, courageously admitting the mistakes of the state.

But even this is not enough. I will immediately turn to the European Commission and friendly countries for help in terms of know-how so that we can finally get modern trains. And I will fight for additional community funding to maintain and quickly update the existing network.

Finally, I will propose to all parties, which we promise from now on, to set up in the next parliament a special committee to investigate the painful history of the Greek railways over the past twenty years. What has not been done for so many years must be done now and quickly.

We all know that the country’s railways are in deep crisis. Perhaps this is an extreme expression of Greece that does not suit us and we want to leave it behind.

I know that many today will remember the phrase of one of my predecessors that “this is Greece.” But no, not only her. There is another Greece that gives us hope, faith and strength.

We all saw her after the tragic accident. Firefighters, rescuers and EKAW, who were there from the first moment. Doctors and paramedics who immediately organized assistance to the victims. In the army. But also to the police experts, who quickly completed the agonizing task of identifying the piles. So they can be returned to their families to mourn.

We also saw the face of the best Greece in the passengers who risked their lives to save their fellow travelers. Greek men and women who rushed to donate blood together. But also to small children, who demonstrated silently and peacefully, with a candle in their hands and with the slogan “Bad times are to blame for everything.” A slogan whose truth hurts us all.

Personally, I am in politics to change this “bad country”, this old Greece that hurts us. That’s why I try, every day. Sometimes I succeed, and sometimes I don’t. However, I am well aware of how much better we can make our country if we sweep away the remnants of the past that prevent us from moving forward. And for this Greece that we deserve, I will continue to fight.

I am stopping here. Today, on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, we all light a candle in memory of those who left so unjustly and so prematurely.”