Greece calls elections in May

Greece will hold general elections in May, the country’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced.

The announcement comes at the same time as the government is heavily criticized for its handling of the extensive train accident that occurred at the end of February in which 57 people lost their lives.

The country’s transport minister submitted his resignation shortly after the accident “out of respect” for those who died.

– I can tell you with certainty that the election will take place in May, says Mitsotakis in an interview with the TV channel Alpha.

Tens of thousands of people have protested across Greece since the accident – with protesters repeatedly clashing with police. Many of the protesters have also called on the country’s prime minister to resign.

It was just before midnight on February 28 that a passenger train with around 350 people on board collided head-on with a freight train.