PASOK plans to submit a request today for the establishment of a preliminary parliamentary inquiry committee aimed at assigning political responsibility for the Tempi train disaster, with a focus on Kostas Achilleas Karamanlis and other former government officials.
The proposal targets not just the former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, but also Deputy Ministers Michalis Papadopoulos, Giorgos Karagiannis, and Giannis Kefalogiannis, alongside former SYRIZA/ANEL Minister Christos Spirtzis, as well as deputy ministers during his time: Nikos Mavraganis, Panagiotis Sgouridis, Thanos Moraitis, and Marina Chrysoveloni.
Sources indicate that the allegations pertain to endangerment of transport safety, an issue PASOK’s legal team believes constitutes a felony. This proposal was meticulously prepared over several days of discussions in PASOK’s parliamentary offices, guided by the party’s Justice Department, led by Christos Kaklamanis, along with Milena Apostolaki, Evangelia Liakouli, and other parliamentary members. Each paragraph was carefully articulated and legally justified.
While there were speculations about Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis possibly being included in the accusation list, PASOK officials emphasized their intent to act institutionally and truthfully, aiming to identify those responsible rather than resorting to populism.
The party also reiterated its independent stance, as it comprises over 30 MPs, the minimum required to propose such a request, while striving to avoid politicizing the tragedy in Tempi.
The PASOK parliamentary group is expected to formally adopt this request during a teleconference today at noon, which will hold the Transport Ministry’s political leadership accountable for delays in executing contract 717, arguing that its timely completion could have prevented the train collision. They are accused of disregarding safety warnings and failing to avert the disaster.
Concerns About Polling Position
Internally, the party is increasingly anxious about its third-place standing in the polls, trailing behind Zoe Konstantopoulou. Two primary strategic paths are emerging regarding opposition tactics and targeted outreach to voters.
A recent Marc poll published in Proto Thema indicates that PASOK has low voter consolidation (58.5%), prompting some to suggest a shift towards the political center, while others advocate for a focus on the center-left battleground. There is a consensus that PASOK must aggressively pursue second place, presenting itself as a viable alternative for governance.
While leadership aims for first place, few believe PASOK can close the 18-point gap with New Democracy, particularly with Freedom Sailing (Plefsi Eleftherias) complicating the race. However, many believe PASOK can still secure second place and improve its standings by clearly defining its positions and emerging from its shell. These topics are being increasingly discussed at internal party meetings, regardless of previous alignments from last October’s leadership election.
Haris Doukas, the Mayor of Athens, emphasizes that PASOK must aspire high and appeal to disenchanted center-left voters, especially those formerly aligned with a divided SYRIZA. Pavlos Geroulanos acknowledges concerns about polling dynamics but believes a solid governance proposal can attract voters disillusioned by the policies of both ND and other opposition parties. Anna Diamantopoulou, in charge of Political Planning, is urging PASOK to concentrate on substantive policy, effectively critique the government, and organize regional policy conferences that connect political objectives with expert insights.
Dinner Meeting Between Papandreou and Doukas in Kavouri
This internal debate is reflected in informal gatherings and dinners occurring across Greece. Former Prime Minister George Papandreou was seen dining at a seafood restaurant in Loutraki ten days ago. On that same day, he planned a meeting with Haris Doukas after both attended pre-conference party events in Patras and Aigio.
Most recently, on Saturday night, Papandreou and Doukas dined together at a Kavouri restaurant. Insiders report that the two maintain close contact, with Papandreou supporting Doukas in the PASOK leadership race last October. They reportedly hold regular meetings to strategize and discuss party developments.
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