Forest fires have always plagued Greece in the summer season – and they will continue to do so.

But the magnitude of the catastrophe mostly has to do with the successful or unsuccessful reaction of the state apparatus. This year’s biblical catastrophe is largely due to the division of the Fire Service along party lines, a fact that is also proved by documents that have recently come to light.

But this so-called politicization of extremely important bodies is a chronic scourge for the Greek state. In the past, though, one could see efforts to limit the phenomenon or to at least keep up the pretexts. Once upon a time, when the party mechanism or ruling party deputy were found to interfere with recruitments or promotions, there was a serious response: Some people were told to go home.

But the information that has recently came to light is bound to take its toll on the government. We will just have to wait to see who exactly will pay the price: a specific minister or the government at large?