Tempi / “mat” movement SYRIZA – Requests legislative initiative after 1.2 million signatures

If the Government intends to respect his wish in practice with the necessary legislative initiative 1 million citizens who support the resolution of their relatives victims of the Tempe accidentasks the member of parliament from Larisa of SYRIZA – Progressive Alliance and rapporteur to the relevant Parliament’s Investigative Committee Vasilis Kokkaliswith a topical question submitted to the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Niki Kerameos.

In more detail, V. Kokkalis mentions the following: “With the completion of one year from Tempe rail tragedythe resolution for the collection of electronic signatures, which has already exceeded 836,000 signatures, through which the relatives of the victims request the activation of the law on the responsibility of ministers, as well as the abolition of parliamentary immunity, when criminal liability of political figures arises, brought back to the political and social dialogue, one major issue of democracy, concerning the revised Constitution of 2019, and in particular in article 73 par. 6, under which the institution of popular legislative initiative was introduced, for the first time in Greece, i.e. the possibility for citizens to submit legislative proposals to the Parliament. In the five (5) years between revision of the Constitutionletters from 44 Civil Society Organizations were sent to the then Minister of the Interior and the Government, with a request to draft and vote the Draft Law on the Citizens’ Legislative Initiative and the passing of the Constitution’s Executive Law for the revised Article 73.

Furthermore, on December 3, 2022, the SYRIZA-PS parliamentary group tabled a related question, in the context of parliamentary control, with the above question, to which on December 30, 2022, the then Minister of the Interior, Mr. Voridis, replied that the that “the Ministry of the Interior is preparing a relevant bill which will be introduced to Parliament as soon as possible for processing and voting”. [Αθήνα, 30 Δεκεμβρίου 2022 – ΥΠΟΥΡΓΕΙΟ ΕΣΩΤΕΡΙΚΩΝ Α.Π. 20355].

Because, despite the above response of the Ministry of the Interior, to date, the government has not introduced a legislative initiative for the possibility of applying the provision of the Constitutionwhich in fact strengthens democratic institutions and because at the present time the resolution regarding the investigation of criminal liability of ministers, makes the legislative initiative for the passing of the necessary implementing law imperative.

Following this, the Minister is asked if the A resolution that has gathered over 1 million signatures and is undoubtedly an expression of the popular sovereignty and will of the Greek people, has mobilized the Government and the competent Ministry to immediately proceed with the introduction in the Parliament and the passing of the Executive Law of the Constitution on the revised article 73, so that it can be applied in the case of Tempo?’