The 52-year-old pediatrician has since become a leading figure in the campaign to hold politicians to account for the crash and this week publicly thanked unions and associations that joined the protests, including doctors at public hospitals, and lawyers and judges who will hold a minute’s silence in courts Friday.
“The full truth must come to light, and those responsible, no matter how high their position, must be held accountable,” said Yannis Panagopoulos, president of the General Confederation of Greek Workers, the country’s largest labor union, which has backed Friday’s strike.
Two years after a devastating train crash in northern Greece, a general strike and hundreds of planned demonstrations are bringing the nation to standstill to mark the anniversary of a tragedy that has become a symbol of institutional failure.
Mountainous Greece is largely road reliant and the nation’s railway system is centered around a single route between Athens and the second largest city, Thessaloniki, a fact that made the collision harder for many to understand.
Private businesses and public services have also been affected, with many stores in Athens closed, leaving messages of solidarity for the victims’ families in front windows.
