The Greek government announced full respect for the judiciary on Tuesday after New Democracy politician Christos Triantopoulos was referred to the Special Court over the Tempi train crash investigation.
Government sources emphasized that the judicial referral is an intermediate procedural step rather than a final court judgment, adding that the presumption of innocence remains fully in effect.
Sources at Maximos Mansion recalled that Triantopoulos had requested from the outset to be judged by his natural judges, expressing confidence that the legal process will clear his name.
Government officials concluded that the tribunal will provide the final answers regarding the case.
Special Court referral and campaign withdrawal
Triantopoulos was referred to the Special Court alongside four other individuals as part of the judicial proceedings into the Tempi disaster. Following the referral decision, Triantopoulos stated that he will not participate in the New Democracy candidate list for the Magnesia constituency in the next election.
Former Thessaly regional governor Kostas Agorastos is among the four other individuals referred to the tribunal in connection with the inquiry.
Opposition reaction and political debate
Opposition party PASOK questioned whether the government still maintains that sending the matter to a judicial investigation was unnecessary. Opposition representatives stated that their stance remains clear, asserting there should be no cover-up, no preferential treatment, and no institutional compromise.
Background on the Tempi investigation
Maximos Mansion in Athens serves as the official seat of the Prime Minister of Greece. Triantopoulos is a ruling party lawmaker representing Magnesia who previously served as a senior government minister handling state assistance and disaster recovery.
The Tempi rail disaster occurred in central Greece when a passenger train collided head-on with a freight train. Under the Constitution of Greece, the Special Court is a ministerial tribunal convened specifically to hear criminal allegations involving cabinet members and senior officials.
