The written explanations of former Deputy Minister Christos Triantopoulos are expected today by members of the preliminary inquiry committee of the Parliament to finally initiate the referral of the former Deputy Minister to the Judicial Council for further action.

The meeting is scheduled for 10am and the summons for Mr Triantopoulos to attend and provide explanations was issued last week. According to reports, the former deputy minister will be taking a position today through a memo which will not go into the substance of the case concerning the orders to alter the scene of the railway accident.

Triandopoulos will insist on what he says in his original petition and will ask to be immediately prosecuted for misconduct in office so that his case can be investigated by the ordinary judiciary.

The political clash between the majority and opposition is also expected to come to a head during today’s meeting.

The New Democracy argues that the immediate referral of Mr. Triandopoulos to the judicial council is in line with the Constitution, guarantees a full investigation of the Tempi tragedy of the by senior judges, without partisan controversy, and is based on the prosecutor’s order invoked by PASOK and other opposition parties for the establishment of the Investigative Committee.

On the other hand, the opposition rapporteurs will insist on the need for the case file and the Tempi investigation to remain in Parliament, while it is not excluded that parties may withdraw from the process.

If the majority view prevails, the parties will have about 10 days to draw up their conclusions while the overall conclusion will be introduced in the plenary within the first 15 days of April for the final vote. The findings will result in a proposal to prosecute for the offence of misconduct in office and if approved by at least 151 MPs – the most likely outcome – Mr Triantopoulos will be referred to the Judicial Council. The 5-member composition of the Supreme Judicial Council will be determined by lot.