Following the resignation of the minister for Infrastructure and Transport Kostas Karamanlis in the aftermath of the railway disaster at Tempi, he and his successor Giorgos Gerapetritis each made a statement at a press conference at the ministry on Thursday 2nd March. Mr Karamanlis’s statement was as follows:

“Thank you all for coming here to today. I do not have a lot to say, and this is not the time for words. Our country, unfortunately, is living through a national tragedy. And nothing has importance over the senseless loss of so many human lives. Unfortunately it seems that a human error led to this unspeakable tragedy. However, everything will be investigated in the most objective way, as the Prime Minister has promised.

“Today, then, marks the end of my presence at the ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Usually outgoing ministers offer an account of their achievements. I will not do that. We will not look at whether much or little was achieved on this day of pain and mourning.

“The fact that the position of Minister is being taken over by such a trustworthy figure as Giorgos Gerapetritis makes me even more confident that the investigation will be thorough and that the causes of the accident will be accurately identified. I have no doubt of that. I wish him every strength in his new and difficult responsibilities.

“I would just like to express my since thanks to my colleagues in the political leadership of the Ministry and to all my fellow workers for their hard work and the cooperation which we have had all these years. And of course I must thank the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the confidence he showed in me.

“And finally, once more, I wish to express my condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. And my warmest wishes to the injured who are waging their own battle. I thank you all.”

Statement by the new Transport minister

In his statement the new Transport minister and former minister of State, Giorgos Gerapetritis, said: “We are living through truly dark days for the country. After the tragic accident at Tempi the country is experiencing exceptionally difficult circumstances and we are all devastated.

“I would like first of all to thank the Minister, not only for his presence at the ministry in general, but primarily for his political example and the sensitivity which he showed in resigning, accepting the ultimate political responsibility which is entailed in such cases of human lives lost so unfairly and so cheaply.

“I would like to stress that I am taking over with a specific order from the Prime Minister. I am taking on the responsibilities of minister of Infrastructure and Transport with three specific goals.

“The first and most fundamental is to investigate the reasons why we got the point of mourning the loss of human souls. The investigation will be conducted in such a way as to be transparent and completely comprehensive. This is the Prime Minister’s clear order. For this reason, as from today we will assemble an ad hoc committee of experts which will study the systemic causes which led to the tragedy which we are all living through today, the long-standing weaknesses which have existed, but will not apportion responsibilities, which is one of the objects of the already established judicial enquiry.

“The second goal is to secure the processes of modernisation of our infrastructure, which have already been scheduled, so that there is no issue regarding the speed of works which have already been committed to. Finally [the third goal is] that immediate action should be taken to restore safety in the Rail Transport sector so that a feeling of safety should also be established in the minds of our citizens.

“I would like to say that I am not taking on the day-to-day running of the ministry. The existing deputy ministers will continue to execute day-to-day policy, they will continue to do their jobs as will the General Secretaries. I would emphasise again that the work of the ministry of Infrastructure and Transport will continue without interruption.

“I would like to say to you in all sincerity that I feel a great obligation and responsibility in taking on this special commission of the Prime Minister. It is a very heavy responsibility. I have become accustomed to taking on such responsibilities in life and since we are faced with a real tragedy, I want first of all to apologise to the families of the people who have been lost, also offering comprehensive self-criticism for the whole of the political system and the State. And I would like sincerely, looking those people in the eye, to say that this difficult and sorrowful task will be pursued to a conclusion. Everything will be investigated and Greek citizens will be taken into account in everything.

“Thank you very much.”