“I did not bring my children into the world to be sacrificed like Iphigenia.” Tempi Tragedy: Plakias’ fury over Mitsotakis’ speech
The speech delivered by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Parliament during the pre-agenda debate on the Tempi disaster, requested by KKE and SYRIZA, has sparked outrage among victims’ families and the wider public.
Among those expressing fury was Nikos Plakias, who lost his two daughters and his niece in the catastrophic train collision. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), he condemned Mitsotakis, accusing him of evading accountability and shifting focus to future promises rather than acknowledging past failures.
“Telling us what you plan to do for the railways by 2027, instead of addressing what you failed to do during your years as Prime Minister, only confirms how guilty you feel for the unjust loss of our loved ones.”
A Government Out of Touch as Protests Intensify
Plakias’ statement comes at a time of massive demonstrations across Greece, with thousands taking to the streets in Athens, Thessaloniki, and other cities to demand justice and accountability for the 57 victims of the Tempi disaster. Public anger has been fuelled by what many see as a government disconnected from reality, failing to acknowledge its role in the negligence and mismanagement that led to the tragedy.
His full statement reads:
“Prime Minister, telling us what you plan to do by 2027 for the railway, rather than acknowledging what you have failed to do in your years in office, only reveals the weight of your guilt for the unjust loss of our relatives.”
“I said something from the beginning: I DIDN’T BRING MY CHILDREN INTO THE WORLD TO BE SACRIFICED LIKE IPHIGENIA.”
“If you want Iphigenias, then let every one of you in Parliament put your own children on the train and build your state-of-the-art OSS now. No problem. But right now, there is a problem.“
His words reflect the growing frustration of grieving families and the Greek public, who see the government’s response as insufficient and out of touch with the deep wounds left by the disaster. The escalating protests signal that the demand for justice will not subside, and neither will the pressure on the Mitsotakis administration to take full responsibility.
