Mother of Greek train crash victim launches political party
Maria Karystianou, whose daughter died in a tragic train crash in Greece, has launched a political party called 'Hope for Democracy.' The party aims to address public frustration with the current government and advocate for justice and reform. Polls indicate that her party could gain significant support in the upcoming elections.
- ▪Karystianou's daughter was one of 57 victims in Greece's worst train crash in 2023.
- ▪She has emerged as a prominent justice campaigner and organized large protests demanding accountability.
- ▪Her new political party could potentially enter parliament, reflecting a shift in public sentiment against the ruling government.
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Mother of Greek train crash victim launches political partySign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxPublished May 22, 2026, 06:40 PMUpdated May 22, 2026, 06:40 PMTHESSALONIKI, Greece, May 22 - Maria Karystianou, a doctor whose daughter died in Greece's worst train crash in 2023, launched a political party on Thursday as she seeks to harness widespread frustration against Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government.Karystianou emerged as a leading justice campaigner for victims of the Tempi train crash that killed 57 people, including her 20-year-old daughter Marthi, and stoked deep mistrust of Greece's political class.Last year, Karystianou helped bring hundreds of thousands of people on to the streets across Greece in the biggest rallies in years demanding justice over…
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