SYRIZA demands investigation of Karamanlis over Tempi accident; gov't sources respond
SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance presented a document claiming 'specific acts and omissions' by former transport minister Kostas Karamanlis over the Tempi train crash to ruling New Democracy (ND) on Monday.
Specifically, SYRIZA parliamentary group secretary Theodora Tzakri presented the document to ND parliamentary group secretary Stavros Kalafatis.
In a statement, Tzakri said that the main opposition party calls the government to commit to voting for a preliminary committee "to investigate the above-mentioned crimes" and "that it will not try to cover up Mr. Karamanlis' responsibilities, so that he may be go to trial following prosecution."
"We are asking of ND and [Prime Minister Kyriakos] Mitsotakis to implement the Constitution, activate the law on ministerial responsibility, and stop covering up Mr. Karamanlis' criminal behavior, as well as of Mr. Karamanlis to place himself at the disposal of justice," Tzakri said.
Gov't sources
If anyone has proof that a politician may be guilty of an act or omission, they should collect enough signatures to table an accusation in parliament plenary, government sources said on Monday.
The sources were responding to a document presented by main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance to ruling New Democracy earlier, calling for a preliminary investigation committee on former transport minister Kostas A. Karamanlis for the Tempi rail accident.
"According to the Greek constitution," the government sources said, "whoever believes there are indications of guilt over an act or omission by a political figure, they have the opportunity to draw up an accusation that will include a proposal for a preliminary investigation, and after collecting the required number of signtures, to table it in parliament plenary according to the required process. Until the above-mentioned process is followed, we are simplly speaking of yet another communications ploy by the main opposition."
AMNA