PASOK is set to file today a request for the formation of a preliminary parliamentary inquiry committee, seeking to assign political responsibility for the Tempi train tragedy, with Kostas Achilleas Karamanlis and other former government officials in its sights.

The proposal names not only the then-Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, but also Deputy Ministers Michalis Papadopoulos, Giorgos Karagiannis, and Giannis Kefalogiannis, along with former SYRIZA/ANEL Minister Christos Spirtzis, and deputy ministers during his tenure: Nikos Mavraganis, Panagiotis Sgouridis, Thanos Moraitis, and Marina Chrysoveloni.

According to sources, the charges relate to the endangerment of transport safety, which PASOK’s legal team considers a felony. The proposal’s legal grounding was carefully crafted over several days of meetings in PASOK’s parliamentary offices, under the guidance of the party’s Justice Department, headed by Christos Kaklamanis, along with Milena Apostolaki, Evangelia Liakouli, and other parliamentary figures. Each paragraph of the request was carefully phrased and legally substantiated.

Although there were rumors that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis might be included in the list of accused, party officials clarified that PASOK aims to act institutionally, seek the truth, and identify those responsible—not to engage in populism.

They also emphasized PASOK’s independent action, not only because the party has over 30 MPs, the required number to submit such a request, but also to avoid politicizing the Tempi tragedy.

During a teleconference at noon today, the PASOK parliamentary group is expected to formally adopt the request, accusing the Transport Ministry’s political leadership of delays in implementing contract 717, which, if completed, could have prevented the train collision. They are also accused of ignoring safety warnings and failing to act to prevent the disaster.

Concerns Over Third Place in Polls

Internally, the party is increasingly concerned about remaining in third place in polls—behind Zoe Konstantopoulou. Two main strategic approaches are emerging regarding opposition tactics and targeted voter outreach.

According to a recent Marc poll published in Proto Thema, PASOK shows low voter consolidation (58.5%), interpreted by some as a signal to shift towards the political center, while others advocate focusing on the center-left battleground. Both sides agree on one thing: PASOK must fight hard for second place, presenting itself as a realistic alternative for governance.

While leadership aims for first place, few respondents believe PASOK can close the 18-point gap with New Democracy, especially with Freedom Sailing (Plefsi Eleftherias) standing in the way. However, more believe PASOK could still achieve second place and boost its percentages by clearly positioning itself and stepping out of its shell. These discussions are becoming increasingly common across internal party meetings, regardless of prior alignments during last October’s leadership election.

Haris Doukas, the Mayor of Athens, insists PASOK must aim high and appeal to disillusioned center-left voters, especially those formerly aligned with a fragmented SYRIZA. Pavlos Geroulanos acknowledges concerns about the polls but believes a concrete governance proposal can attract voters disillusioned by both ND policies and those of other opposition parties. Anna Diamantopoulou, in charge of Political Planning, is pushing PASOK to focus on substantive policy, criticize the government effectively, and organize regional policy conferences that connect political goals with expert input.

Papandreou–Doukas Dinner in Kavouri

This climate of internal debate is reflected in informal gatherings and dinners held across Greece. Former Prime Minister George Papandreou was seen dining at a seafood taverna in Loutraki ten days ago. That same day, he arranged a meeting with Haris Doukas after both had attended pre-conference party events in Patras and Aigio.

Most recently, on Saturday night, Papandreou and Doukas dined together at a restaurant in Kavouri. According to insiders, the two remain in close contact, with Papandreou having backed Doukas in the PASOK leadership race last October. They are said to hold regular in-person meetings to discuss party strategy and developments.