ATHENS, Greece — The worst rail accident in Greece’s history is starting to hurt Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as he gears up for a general election this year.
Citizens took to the streets earlier this month in the biggest protest in a decade after a devastating train crash on the line from Athens to Thessaloniki killed 57 people. A first poll since the accident hints at a possible dent in Mitsotakis’ support among voters with questions raised over the state’s ability to run and upgrade the rail network.
The government has said that the elections will take place in spring but a reported plan to hold the ballot on April 9 has been delayed following the deadly accident. The country won’t hold an election before Easter Sunday, which falls a week later for the orthodox church on April 16, a person familiar with the matter said. The deadline for the ballot to take place is July.
