A huge protest took place in Syntagma Square over the Tempe railway tragedy, coinciding with the debate in Parliament on a motion of no confidence against the government. Thousands of demonstrators responded to the call of unions, worker associations, and federations, sending a clear message of defiance. The speeches highlighted the dangers of privatisation and the so-called “reform” of public transport, as the crowd chanted their defining slogan: “Their profits or our lives.” Even when riot police fired tear gas, protesters stood their ground, staging a sit-in.
Report by Nektaria Psaraki
Mar 6, 2025
Syntagma was once again filled with demonstrators, just days after the historic nationwide strike called by the families of the Tempe victims. The mass turnout sent a strong message of delegitimisation towards the government as MPs inside Parliament debated the motion of no-confidence filed by the oppostition. Protesters chanted: “I can’t breathe – that’s what makes the state a murderer” and “Their profits or our lives.”
The rally began with a performance by the band Koinoi Thnitoi, who sang “We Will Win” and “I’ll Be Late Tonight” while 57 lanterns were released into the sky—one for each of the victims of the Tempe disaster. Before letting the lanterns go, demonstrators vowed that the crime would not be forgotten and that any attempt at a cover-up would not be tolerated.
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In front of Parliament, protesters held placards spelling out “Their Profits or Our Lives” at the spot where the names of the Tempe victims had been painted in red. The number 57 was formed with candles and adorned with flowers in their memory.
Speakers from trade unions took to the stage outside Parliament, criticising the PM for dismissing calls for his resignation, claiming most protesters wanted progress, not his government to fall.
“Sadly, the Prime Minister showed he has not understood what millions of citizens are demanding. Instead of delivering justice by holding those truly responsible to account—no matter how high up they are—he claimed that what the public really wants is for public sector workers to be evaluated. Once again, he is trying to distract and attack what few rights public servants have left.”
He added:
“Rather than acknowledge the obvious need to renationalise Hellenic Train and reintegrate it into the state railway system (OSE), he announced plans for the indirect privatisation of OSE by hiring a foreign consultancy. As if the government needs consultants to tell them to hire more staff!”
Nikos Tsaklidis, cousin of Tempe victim Agapi Tsaklidi and an employee of Hellenic Train, spoke about the railway workers lost in the disaster: “Two years ago, among the wreckage that Hellenic Train sent us for so-called ‘charitable purposes,’ we swore an oath. How hypocritical! Those who never cared for these lives, those who claimed the railway was ‘modernised’ and that safety systems were fully operational, suddenly pretend to care about our dead. Shame on them!”
“And shame on all the parties that, under EU directives, voted to carve up the railway, privatise the most profitable parts, and ignore the needs and safety of workers, citizens, and passengers. They told us that the Italians would ‘save’ our railways. They asked workers to ‘make sacrifices,’ saying that conditions would improve and safety measures were being implemented. But we workers and our unions refused to play along. Just days before the disaster, we warned that a major accident was imminent—and we will not stand by and watch them shed crocodile tears now.”
After the rally ended, clashes broke out, prompting riot police to once again flood the area with tear gas. However, a large number of protesters refused to disperse. Many sat down in front of Parliament, raised their hands in the air, and continued their demonstration.
So far, three arrests have been reported, along with three injuries.
Credit: Aris Oikonomou / SOOC
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