Nikos Androulakis, speaking from the floor of the Parliament during a plenary session, announced his intention to submit a vote of no confidence immediately after the political leaders have delivered their speeches. He emphasized this move aims "to halt the downward spiral and allow the political system to regain its footing. This is not a mere spectacle; it represents the culmination of PASOK's institutional struggle and reflects the concerns of the citizens."
He criticized the Prime Minister's speech, calling it devoid of basic empathy and a glaring example of hypocrisy and arrogance. "Today, in the wake of protests by millions of Greeks demanding truth and justice, I expected you to show at least a modicum of empathy. I anticipated a Prime Minister who would acknowledge the lies he has told the Greek people, the systematic misleading of citizens, and the propaganda built upon tragedy. He should have apologized for issuing a false 'report' on the explosion, attempting to manipulate Justice," stated the PASOK-Movement for Change leader. "He should have acknowledged the protective shield he has provocatively extended to his ministers and bowed his head to the public's plea for an effective and modern state—an expectation he has failed to meet miserably," he added.
Androulakis asserted that Mr. Mitsotakis presented himself as a champion of truth while overwhelming Parliament with disinformation. "He claimed there was no editing room for the recordings of the stationmaster that were leaked to sympathetic media just hours after the tragedy. You lied about the Triantopoulos file, saying it was not introduced in the Plenary in August. You are telling barefaced lies by misrepresenting an August video as one announcing the first case file from May. Cease reproducing the provocations of the truth team; this is Parliament, not a basement in Piraeus," he declared emphatically.
"You are not the government of the best, as you claim, but rather one that is guilty and ineffective," Mr. Androulakis stated, pointing out that it was the government ministers who injected an anti-government sentiment into the protests by suggesting that those participating in the demonstrations seek instability and are instigated by foreign entities. "In the end, it's not just the well-known exaggerations of your ministers; you share the same beliefs!" he asserted, adding: "You have mobilized the Greek people with your audacity, arrogance, and criminal accountability."
Addressing HARSIA, he pledged that PASOK would transform it into an Independent Authority, noting that although its establishment was authorized prior to the tragic events in the Tempe area, it was only staffed six months afterwards. "Had the organization been operational by dawn on March 1st, it would have been the one managing the crime scene, not your appointed minister," Mr. Androulakis emphasized.
He called out the government's misleading claims about the regulation for judges' involvement in the appointment of leadership within the Justice system, highlighting that Article 27 of law 5123/2024 allows for a non-binding opinion from the plenary of the Courts regarding candidates proposed for promotion. "This is an incomplete measure since the opinion of the plenary does not have binding authority. The Cabinet is not obligated to heed it. I am not careless; you are meticulous and proficient in deceiving and misleading the citizens,” underscored the president of PASOK - Movement for Change.
He criticized the arrogance emanating from the responsible minister, George Floridis, and challenged the government's approach to the preliminary investigation concerning Mr. Triantopoulos. "You have already submitted a report. You will do everything possible to keep it from reaching the Special Court. But we will do everything we can to thwart your efforts," he declared.
Regarding the assessments referenced by Mr. Mitsotakis in his speech, the opposition leader reminded him, "You cannot blame PASOK, as any assessments and accountability in public life and administration stem from the landmark ASEP law and the amendment of Article 103 of the constitution in 2001, which was not supported by New Democracy."
"You speak of evaluations in connection with the Tempe incident, yet you ensured that OSE, ERGOSE, and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport were staffed with individuals from your party and ONNED affiliates. Is it too much to ask if you will identify the official responsible for favoritism towards the stationmaster? Did you evaluate Karamanlis before reinserting him into ND's electoral lists?" he pressed.
He concluded, stating, "You come here pretending to be the Robin Hood of reform, claiming to oppose the entrenched clientelist state? But if we examine the favoritism exhibited by you and your family over the years, it likely stretches beyond the distance between Athens and Thessaloniki."
