Former SYRIZA MP and former Minister of Transport, Christos Spirtzis, requests in a letter to the Speaker of the Parliament, Costas Tasoula, the establishment of a special committee to investigate his possible criminal responsibilities regarding the accident in Tempi.

In his letter, he emphasizes that “since the first days after the accident, I have been exposed, without any reason or any justification, and continues by noting: “I hope and wish that the other involved political figures will submit a similar request, in order to build a relationship of trust between the political world and society, giving citizens the message that we do not hide behind immunity”.

The letter of Mr. Spirtzis:

“Dear President of the Hellenic Parliament

As you know, the Parliament has rejected proposals for the formation of a Special Parliamentary Committee, in terms of conducting a preliminary examination for the criminal investigation of the tragic accident (crime, according to me) of Tempe and in particular for the responsibilities of political figures, in this regard. But even with the conclusion (of the majority) of the Commission of Inquiry on “the investigation of the crime of Tempe and all aspects related to it” it is clear that any responsibilities for the management of Convention 717 of 2014 and for ERGOSE were not clarified.

Given this, it is clear that I was not given the opportunity, even though I requested it in all tones, to deal with the various suspicions and/or accusations that were hurled against me for the period 2015 – 2019, when I was Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. Much more, in fact, I was not given the opportunity to respond to the letter of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which requests, among other things, the investigation of Convention 717 of 2014, ERGOSE, for the possible performance of a “breach of duty” on my part, without but not to refer anywhere to acts or omissions that could constitute it.

Therefore, honorable Mr. President, I believe that since the first days after the accident I have been exposed, without any reason and no justification, to a propaganda tactic of spreading blame, purely for petty political reasons and other political expediencies, with the aim of implicating the name me, generally and vaguely, in the chorus of those responsible for the accident/crime.

So I consider it my duty:

First, to defend my personality and my general course and work against any insult and any attempt to smear.

Secondly, to honor in practice and not in words the memory of the victims of the tragedy of Tempe and the so dignified fighting attitude of their families and loved ones, joining my forces with all my fellow citizens who are fighting for the full investigation of the case, in order to bring justice to the Tempe tragedy/crime.

Based on the above, in order to leave no shadow as to my own responsibilities and also to indirectly reveal the real culprits, I request the activation, in my person, of article 86 par. 5 of the Constitution, according to which :

“If for any other reason, which includes the statute of limitations, the procedure concerning prosecution against a person who is or was a member of the Government or a Deputy Minister is not terminated, the Parliament may, upon application by him or his heirs, to set up a special committee in which senior judicial officials can also participate to review the charge».

Considering it self-evident, honorable Mr. President, that the conditions laid down by the above provision are fully met – given that the statute of limitations was one of the reasons repeatedly cited to justify the rejection of the request for a judicial investigation of the offenses allegedly attributed to me – please start the process to satisfy my request as soon as possiblein accordance with the specific provisions of article 155 par. 12 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, which as you know stipulates that:

“In the special committee of the previous paragraph [δηλ. του άρθρου 86 παρ. 5 που το επαναλαμβάνει η παρ. 11 του ΚαΒ] presided over by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Parliament. The number of members, its composition and composition in a House are determined by the decision of the Parliament. The same decision sets a deadline for submitting its findings. After the submission of the conclusion, following a request of the interested party or his heirs or a proposal of one tenth (1/10) of the total number of MPs, following a decision of the Conference of Presidents, a debate is held in the Parliament, which is concluded in one sitting”.

I hope and wish that the other involved political figures will submit a similar request, in order to build a relationship of trust between the political world and society, giving the citizens the message that we do not hide behind immunity…

On this occasion, Mr. President, I want to emphasize that I will support in every way the just request of the relatives of the victims and almost one and a half million of our fellow citizens, for the further modification of the institution of the responsibility of ministers, hoping that in the end the Parliament will also tend to listen ous and will complete the cowardly step of the previous constitutional review, with the final abolition of the immunity of ministers and the assignment of the responsibility for criminal prosecution against them exclusively to the Courts (with increased guarantees, however)”.