PASOK's motion of censure against the government continues to be debated in the Greek Parliament on Thursday, after being tabled on Wednesday with the signature of 85 deputies of four parties and independents.

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis had announced the tabling of the censure motion, which was supported by 33 deputies of PASOK, 26 of SYRIZA, 11 of Nea Aristera, 6 of Plefsi Eleftherias, and 12 independent deputies, 6 of whom are affiliated with the Movement for Democracy (Kinima Dimokratias).

The government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis asked that discussion begins immediately.

The motion of censure was tabled during the pro-daily agenda debate of the Tempi train collision. According to the Parliament rules of order, the tabling of a motion of censure results in the interruption of its works and the start of a three-day discussion on this proposal.

Three-day debate

According to regulations, the discussion begins with speeches by two of the deputies signing it, followed by cycles of 15 to 16 speakers alternating between the government and opposition deputies, based on the seats the parties hold in Parliament. Speakers may include presidents of parliamentary groups, ministers, and parliamentary representatives. 

On the third day on the censure motion, debate will conclude with speeches by party leaders in reverse order and will be followed by a roll-call vote. In order for the motion of censure to be accepted, it must be approved by the absolute majority of all deputies, who total 300. A censure of motion may not be tabled before the lapse of six months from the rejection of the last one, unless it is signed by the absolute majority of all deputies.

According to the motion's explanation, the massive demostrations on January 26 and February 28 "conveyed society's established belief in the government's responsibilities both for the accident/criminal and the conditions that led to the collision of the trains, which ran on the same line for 12 minutes, and for the attempt to cover up government responsibilities over actions and omissions that led to the accident."

It added that "a powerful, all-popular demand has been formulated for the serving of justice and for safe railway transportation, goals that this government has clearly and stubbornly refused to serve. This is an illegitimized government and an illegitimized prime minister."