In a fierce debate now being waged in public view, the competition between Syriza and PASOK over which party leads the opposition can capitalize politically on the social protest over the Tempi accident and deliver the strongest blows to the government.

In recent hours, Charilaou Trikoupis and Koumoundourou have been exchanging heavy spikes on what should come first; the motion of no-confidence against the government proposed by SYRIZA or the preliminary investigation committee demanded by PASOK.

Socrates Famellos, speaking in parliament on Wednesday afternoon, argued that PASOK’s stance serves the government.

“PASOK’s reluctance to cooperate with us on the filing of the motion of impeachment, which has already been accepted by New Left and Eleftherias, gives the government political time to create a new narrative instead of giving a political response to society’s demand. The strategy of ‘wait and see’ runs the risk of being trapped in the government’s initiatives,” he said initially about Harilaou Trikoupis’ refusal to support the motion of no-confidence in the current circumstances.

At the same time Olga Gerovassili in her statements expressed strong concern about PASOK’s choice to submit a proposal for the establishment of a preliminary investigation committee for the tempering with the accident scene, arguing that from all the criminal elements included in the relevant file in the Parliament only possible misdemeanor responsibilities arise. “The evidence shows a breach of duty for a political person (Christos Triandopoulos), that is, a misdemeanor. With the preliminary investigation now you risk closing a case quickly without having reached the desired result,” he said.

On the other hand, PASOK chairman Nikos Androulakis said in an interview with Mega that “I am surprised that SYRIZA insists on this wrong strategy (i.e. to precede the motion of no confidence).”

At the same time, Panagiotis Doudonis described the stance of SYRIZA as contradictory. Speaking to parliamentary editors he said: “In our opinion, the file completely justifies the request (for a preliminary investigation). SYRIZA assessed it differently. We are surprised that they will vote for our proposal. There is a contradiction.”