Former Greek Deputy Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Christos Triantopoulos has been referred to the Special Court over the alteration of the Tempe train crash site.
Following the announcement of the judicial decision, Triantopoulos announced that he will not stand as a candidate in the country's next national elections.
The ruling by the Judicial Council sends the former minister to the Special Court for ministerial responsibility to face charges relating to the alteration of the accident location. The judicial decision comes 17 months after the Greek Parliament voted in April 2025 to submit the case for judicial evaluation.
The Special Court is a constitutional judicial body in Greece established to adjudicate cases involving current or former cabinet ministers. The referral stems from investigations into the Tempe train disaster, a major rail collision in central Greece that triggered intense political debate and public scrutiny over government actions following the accident.
Rejection of allegations and election withdrawal
In a public statement released after learning of the ruling through the press, Triantopoulos expressed his complete disagreement with the conclusions of the indictment decree while stating his full respect for the members of the Judicial Council. He noted that he had chosen from the outset to speak institutionally before Parliament, avoiding political plots and conspiracy theories that aimed to exploit the tragedy, which he said collapsed when scientific evidence was presented.
Triantopoulos maintained that his innocence would be fully demonstrated during the upcoming proceedings in the Special Court, where he said an in-depth evaluation will clarify all aspects of the case. He added that after resigning from his government post, he had personally asked Parliament to place him at the disposal of justice, calling his decision an unprecedented move in Greek political standards.
Explaining his decision to withdraw from the upcoming parliamentary contest, Triantopoulos stated that preparing for the demanding judicial process could not practically run alongside an election campaign. He confirmed that he informed Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis that he will not be included on the party's ballot in the Magnesia constituency.
Parliamentary record and government response
Triantopoulos stated that he will remain in office until the end of the current parliamentary term to honor the citizens who elected him. He highlighted that he was the top vote getter in Magnesia during the 2023 national elections, receiving 21,492 preference votes, and pledged to continue working for the region.
Magnesia is an electoral district in the Thessaly region of central Greece. New Democracy, the governing center-right party led by Mitsotakis, is aiming for another electoral victory in the next national elections scheduled for 2027, which Triantopoulos said he will actively support.
Addressing the substance of the case, Triantopoulos noted that there would be further opportunities in the future to discuss the matter and bring the truth to light. He stressed that since entering politics in 2019, his work has been guided by a consistent code of values and a commitment to take responsibility when required in the national interest.
Government sources responded to the ruling by stating that the administration fully respects the judicial system, emphasizing that the referral represents an intermediate procedural stage rather than a final verdict. The sources added that the presumption of innocence applies to Triantopoulos, noting that because he asked from the start to be judged by his natural judges, the court will deliver the final answers.
