Amidst the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into the tragic Tempi railway accident that happened last year and claimed at least 57 lives, proceedings faced an unexpected disruption.
Zoe Konstantopoulou, a well-known Greek politician and leader of the leftist party “Course of Freedom” made headlines by disrupting the inquiry. The Greek politician was excluded from the proceedings due to her role as an advocate for the victims' families, however she refused to leave, which lad to a one-hour suspension of proceedings.
Dimitris Markopoulos, the committee's president, promptly informed Parliament President Konstantinos Tasoulas about mrs Konstantopoulou's presence, emphasizing her exclusion from the inquiry due to her dual role as both an advocate for the victims' families and a non-member of the committee. Despite Markopoulos's request for her immediate departure, Zoi remained steadfast in her refusal.
As reported by iEidiseis, eventually the Parliament President decided to allow the session to proceed with Zoi Konstantopoulou inside the room, acknowledging her right to be present but without the right to vote or speak.
Committee President Dimitris Markopoulos later visited Konstantinos Tasoulas's office to update him on the situation and take charge of the matter.
It's worth noting that Zoi Konstantopoulou was initially a committee member but withdrew following the committee's decision, given her role as an advocate for the victims' families.
Through a letter, Zoe Konstantopoulou informed the President of the Parliament that she intends to participate in today's session of the Investigative Committee probing the Tempi Tragedy.
The politician vehemently challenged the decision that purportedly excluded her, labeling it as “baseless” and “procedurally invalid”. Konstantopoulou contended that the decision was made by a committee lacking the authority to determine her exclusion and employing a process with no legal basis, rendering it void.
The decision she contested was allegedly made arbitrarily, without proper authority, and involved individuals with apparent conflicts of interest. Notably, Thanos Pleuris, a Member of Parliament and former Health Minister, participated as a representative of the government majority, despite being accused by the victims of being involved in actions related to covering up events after the crime.
Moreover, a significant portion of the majority was shaped by non-members of the Committee, including members who overtly rejected the purpose and scope of the Committee. Committee President Markopoulos, for instance, characterized the Tempi Tragedy as an "accident" and a "disaster."
