Greece is witnessing a wave of mass protests and strikes as the country marks the second anniversary of the tragic train crash that claimed 57 lives in 2023.
The fallout from the disaster has intensified public anger, with many believing that authorities have engaged in a cover-up, putting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis under immense pressure.
Demonstrations on Friday coincide with a nationwide industrial action, with organizers vowing that the scale of protests will be unprecedented. The deadly collision between an intercity passenger train and a cargo locomotive in the Tempe valley remains the worst rail accident in Greece’s history.
Petros Constantinou, a well-known activist, described the public outrage as “a river of outrage swelling by the minute,” adding, “Citizens feel duped. They want answers, they want justice, and they want to support the families of the victims. Everyone believes this will be the biggest show of people power in this country in decades.”
Opposition leader Nikos Androulakis has accused the government of deception and announced plans to file a motion of no confidence next week. Public frustration has been exacerbated by the government’s decision to rapidly clear the crash site, removing key evidence and human remains, along with accusations of political interference in the investigation.
An independent investigative report released Thursday raised further concerns, revealing the possible presence of an “unknown fuel” at the crash site. The report suggested that the freight train may have been carrying a highly flammable illegal substance, fueling suspicions of a cover-up.
With protests planned in over 200 towns and cities, as well as international demonstrations from Canada to Australia, the government is deploying over 5,000 security personnel in Athens alone. Analysts suggest that this is the most significant public opposition Mitsotakis has faced in his six years in office, with widespread distrust in public institutions and growing uncertainty over what comes next.
