Maria Karystianou, the prominent leader of the Tempi rail disaster victims' association, has resigned from her post, shattering the group's unity amid board allegations of financial mismanagement and personal politicization. The rupture became public after five of the association’s seven board members sent a letter last week demanding Mrs. Karystianou step down. They accused the president of authorizing expenses without approval that were unrelated to the group's statutory mission and demanded she immediately surrender the association's bank cards and online access codes. While the board members clarified they were not alleging embezzlement, they cited a complete breakdown in transparency and refused to sign off on the annual financial report. The dispute also centers on Mrs. Karystianou’s recent confirmation that she will form a political party to contest the next election. Dissenting members argued this ambition compromised the neutrality of the families’ struggle for justice for the 57 victims of the 2023 crash, blurring the line between the collective cause and personal political gain. Mrs. Karystianou rejected the accusations as “legally invalid” and morally flawed. She countered that the board had repeatedly blocked her efforts to convene a general assembly and attributed the conflict to internal resistance against her new anti-corruption movement. “As things stand, I feel I cannot remain a member of this board,” Mrs. Karystianou stated, calling for new elections to resolve the crisis. The public feud threatens to derail the advocacy group at a critical juncture, raising fears among families that their demand for accountability will be weakened by internal strife. By Antonis Telopoulos Διαβάστε περισσότερα στο iefimerida.gr