A poignant moment unfolded in the Greek Parliament when the mother of Jason, a young man who tragically lost his life in a traffic accident outside the Parliament building, was present in the gallery during a plenary session.

Jason died when his motorbike collided head-on with a vehicle escorting the car of New Democracy (ND) MP Dora Bakoyannis on Vasilissis Sofias Street. The incident sparked public outcry and demands for accountability.

Zoe Konstantopoulou, president of the Freedom Sailing party (Plefsi Eleftherias), acknowledged Jason’s mother in the chamber, sharply criticizing the way the incident was handled. She accused the then Speaker of Parliament of attempting to shield the responsible police officer—who was driving the escort vehicle—from consequences. Konstantopoulou asserted that there was a deliberate effort to cover up the incident and allow the officer to go unpunished.

In response, ND parliamentary representative Thanos Plevris shared a personal story, referencing the death of his own mother in a traffic accident. He recalled her final words, where she forgave the driver who hit her, believing it to be an honest mistake. Out of respect for her wishes, Plevris said he chose not to press charges, though the driver was still held legally accountable under Greece’s penal code for involuntary manslaughter.

Addressing Konstantopoulou, Plevris emphasized the need to treat grieving families with honesty and clarity. He explained that Greek law categorizes fatal traffic accidents under involuntary manslaughter and assigns penalties accordingly. “There is nothing unusual in how the law treats such cases,” he said, “and we must not present it differently to a mother in pain.”

He added that since the incident, the penal code has been amended: those convicted of involuntary manslaughter may now serve only part of their sentence, and stricter penalties are intended to encourage more responsible driving.

Plevris concluded with an appeal to address such tragedies with empathy rather than political rivalry: “We must respond to the loss of life not with competition over who hurts more, but with understanding and respect for justice.”