The assessment that “if what was in effect before 2019 and 2020 in the OSE was true”, the accident in Tempe this will not happen, said the former Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Christos Spirtzes.

After initially expressing his sorrow for the victims of the railway accident and noting that “now is not the time to engage in propaganda,” Mr. Spircis, when asked about this in an interview with SKAI television, said that “we will present all the evidence, and if we have a share of responsibility, we let’s say so.” At the same time, he added that “everyone is to blame” is not true. I think it’s not our fault. I don’t think the SYRIZA government is to blame.”

Mr. Spircis noted that “it is appalling to say that there was a collision on a dual railway line. When did this happen in Greece? Until 2018, we had a monastery and there were no conflicts. There were other accidents, but is it possible to head-to-head in a deuce?

“We stopped the tram”

When asked what had changed and we got to the tragedy in Tempe, he replied that “the entire EfE system was destroyed, collapsed within 4 years. Why; Because another logic continued in the staffing of the organization.” Mr. Spircis argued that when “you’re a minister and they tell you there’s a safety problem, you stop if you can’t ensure safe operation,” referring to his own decision to stop trams.

Regarding the security systems, he stressed that “during our administration, there were two systems, and this was hidden by Mr. Gerapetritis. In 2019 there was a fire, and no one liquidated it. They did 9.5 billion direct missions and didn’t fix the burnt center.”

He blamed the government for the staffing of the Organization. “There should have been staff, there should have been service, which was not there. Today, OSE has 1,200 full-time employees,” he said, adding: “Responsibilities don’t last forever. They are personalized.” He asked Mr. Mitsotakis to “send another letter to Mr. Dogiakos and look into all contracts with SYRIZA, not just the railroad.”

He also mentioned that in September 2018 the SYRIZA government delivered 68% of the system and added that the project that the Prime Minister will launch in Thessaloniki the day after the accident is 95% complete. Finally, when asked by journalists if he had avoided appearing in recent days, he said that he had “no reason to hide” and that any journalist who was looking for him spoke to him.

Economy for Spircis’s statements: a monument to cynicism, confusion and lies

In a statement by a government spokesman Yannis Oikonomou stated that “Mr. Spirtzis, for 4.5 years Minister of Transport of the governments of SYRIZA, appeared today to take up his position, ten days after the tragic accident. His position, which is a sad monument to cynicism, confusion and lies, is summarized as follows: “We are not to blame.”

“The implementation of the infamous contract for the period 2017-2019 has been completely stopped. He must have the audacity to claim that the railroad ran like clockwork during SYRIZA and was dismantled by the government of North Dakota.” – added, in particular, a representative of the government.

He also invited Mr. Spircis to take part in the parliamentary committee on production and trade in a debate with the Minister of State for Transport, Yorgos Gerapetritis, in order to capture the real situation through documents and evidence.

“From the first moment, the government clearly took responsibility for the tragic accident at Tempe. Mr. Spircis, for 4.5 years Minister of Transport of the SYRIZA governments, appeared today to take up his position, ten days after the tragic accident. His position, which is a sad monument to cynicism, confusion and lies, is summarized as follows: “We are not to blame.” This is the cynical line of all the leaders of SYRIZA. Responsibility is borne by those who were before and after, not they. The Pharisees claim that the pathologies and attitudes that gave rise to the tragedy of Tempe do not concern them.

Mr. Spircis and the government he served were unable to complete the necessary projects to upgrade infrastructure and railways to improve safety. The implementation of the infamous contract for the period 2017-2019 has been completely halted. He must have great audacity to claim that the railway was running “hours” during SYRIZA and was dismantled by the ND government.

At this time, partisan squabbling is ungrateful and completely unnecessary. This is not what the case and society require. But one thing is the attitude of responsibility and the search for truth, and the other is lies and hypocrisy. For this reason, we invite Mr. Spircis to take part in the parliamentary committee on production and trade in a debate with the Minister of State for Transport, Mr. Gerapetritis, in order to capture the real situation through documents and data. No cover. Citizens demand recognition and responsibility, not lies and evasions.”