PM talks about train crash in Tempe Kyriakos Mitsotakis with President of the Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou as part of their regular meetings at the Presidential Palace.

In a dialogue before the cameras, Mr. Mitsotakis stressed that “we must ensure that the investigation into the causes of the tragedy is carried out transparently and quickly in order to restore justice.”

“In this effort, I will not hesitate to take advantage of any available European assistance. I asked the European Railways Authority to immediately draw up a report with suggestions on how we can improve it, and this report should be made public immediately from the moment it is submitted. On the other hand, we must take immediate corrective measures to improve the safety of our trains, and my announcements yesterday have also been moved in this direction, train traffic will resume as soon as possible with maximum safety with two station masters at each station and in each shift. . And, of course, the notorious remote control system, which, I want to remind you, has been under consideration since 2014, will be quickly completed in the next few months,” the Prime Minister said.

He then said, “But I think this event also showed the big problems that we still face in the real modernization of the state, this is an ongoing battle. Preconceived notions with thinking coming from the past. We have proven that as a country we can win several of these battles, and at the same time it is impossible for a country to have modern technological systems such as 112 that can warn any Greek in any corner of the country of an approaching natural disaster. and on the other hand, that some stationmasters cannot come to an agreement.”

And he concluded: “So, this conflict with what could be called a deeply anachronistic state acquires the features of urgency. I think that this will also be a challenge not only for the next period, but also a big challenge for the country as a whole to really modernize, to become Europe everywhere, and not just somewhere in certain areas, and personally I have always been involved in this. this battle. I know that this fight has both wins and very difficult moments like this, and that’s why I will continue to fight. But this is no longer a lonely battle, this is a battle that I believe is mobilizing many healthy forces in Greek society and in the state apparatus that demand a better state with more experience, more efficiency, more transparency, more meritocracy, more appreciation, and for everything I personally will continue to fight.”

PtD: “There must be immediate and full responsibility”

For her part, the President of the Republic said: “The country is going through a tragedy. Our trauma is open, collective and deep. There are no words to ease the pain of lost lives. Our society mourns, gets angry and loses trust in institutions. This anger, the fury of the world, we must not forget, not repulse, but make it productive. We feel not only responsibility, but also shame, I would say.”

Finally, Ms. Sakellaropoulou stressed: “There must be immediate and full responsibility in all directions, and we must all together and with all our strength ensure that such a tragedy never happens again. Eradication of pathogens, finally leaving behind those aspects of Greece that alienate and expose us. This is a debt to the unjustly lost lives, as well as to our country.”