Markopoulos Indirectly Rebukes Skertsos over Tempi Tragedy Remarks

With pointed remarks directed at Minister of State Akis Skertsos, though not naming him explicitly, New Democracy MP Dimitris Markopoulos commented on the latest developments surrounding the Tempi train tragedy. His statements followed a post by Skertsos a day earlier, in which the Minister referred to a “political plot” being constructed around the case.

Markopoulos underscored the gravity of the national tragedy, stating that “the aftertaste will always be bitter,” and reaffirmed that, while there was no cover-up, “many mistakes were made.” He emphasized his accountability, reminding the public that he had publicly apologized to the victims’ families.

He went on to deliver a veiled but unmistakable critique of internal party dynamics, observing:

“Some in our party have now discovered, albeit belatedly, the ‘political plot in the light of a national tragedy.’ A year ago, about 15 of us MPs stood alone, defending the government under fire from demagogic parties pushing conspiracy theories.”

Markopoulos continued with sharper internal criticism, stating that, “some within our own ranks faltered. They remained silent or even declared their intent to protest against the very government they serve.” Nevertheless, he insisted, “time is proving us right—those of us who fought, despite being threatened, insulted, and stigmatized.”

He concluded with a forceful call for judicial action against those who, in his words, “built a great and intolerable lie upon the memory of wronged citizens” in order to profit—politically or otherwise—from the disaster.

In a particularly scathing aside, he also condemned unnamed political and technical figures, seemingly referring to both Freedom Party leader Zoe Konstantopoulou and technical advisor Mr. Lakafosis:

“Not the truth of every apprentice expert or the grave-robbing advocate of the cheese-pie rapist and the Russian oligarch friends of President Putin.”

Background: Skertsos’ Post and the Novartis Analogy

Minister of State Akis Skertsos, in a widely discussed social media post, drew a controversial parallel between the Tempi case and the Novartis scandal. Citing what he described as a fabricated political frame-up by the SYRIZANEL government in the latter case, Skertsos questioned how easily a national tragedy can be weaponized for political gain.

He argued that just as SYRIZANEL had misused the real but unrelated pharmaceutical scandal to prosecute ten of its political opponents—including former prime ministers and ministers—some forces were now attempting to do the same with Tempi.

Skertsos wrote:

“By the time truth has tied its shoelaces, the lie has already gone halfway around the world.”
– Mark Twain

He detailed the fiscal context of the Novartis case, explaining that budget deficits and lack of oversight in public health spending during the 2000s had necessitated tough reforms under Greece’s bailout memoranda. According to Skertsos, instead of targeting the real culprits—doctors and pharmaceutical entities involved in overprescription—the SYRIZANEL government weaponized the scandal for political persecution.

Skertsos concluded with a warning against repeating past mistakes, urging the justice system to proceed unimpeded:

“Let us not allow the same mistake to be repeated. Let justice do its job—calmly and independently—so that we never again experience either national bankruptcy or another Tempi.”