KKE's response to wildfires in Greece

Over the past two days, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), through statements and interventions reported on 902.gr, has sharply criticized the government's handling of the wildfires sweeping several parts of Greece. The party states that the fires expose chronic shortcomings in fire prevention, civil protection and forest management, which it attributes to successive governments and to policies driven by profitability rather than public need. At the same time, KKE officials have visited affected areas, expressed solidarity with residents and firefighters, and called for immediate relief and long-term preventive measures.

KKE maintains that the repeated destruction caused by summer wildfires is not simply the result of extreme weather conditions but of longstanding political choices. According to the party, governments have failed to invest adequately in:

• permanent firefighting personnel;
• comprehensive forest management and fire prevention;
• modern civil protection infrastructure;
• coordinated planning for disaster prevention.

The party argues that forest protection has been subordinated to cost-cutting and market-oriented policies, leaving local communities increasingly vulnerable whenever severe fires occur. It contends that every wildfire season demonstrates the consequences of these structural weaknesses rather than representing isolated emergencies.

KKE representatives visited fire-stricken areas, meeting with residents and local officials to assess the damage. The party expressed solidarity with families who lost homes, agricultural production and livelihoods, while emphasizing that immediate state assistance should be provided without bureaucratic delays.

The party also praised firefighters, volunteers and local residents involved in firefighting efforts, while arguing that their sacrifices cannot compensate for deficiencies in state preparedness and preventive planning.

KKE calls for:

• immediate compensation covering 100% of losses suffered by residents, farmers and small businesses;
• rapid restoration of damaged homes, infrastructure and public utilities;
• permanent recruitment of firefighters and strengthening of the Fire Service;
• systematic forest management, including clearing combustible material and expanding fire-prevention measures;
• increased funding for civil protection and disaster prevention rather than reliance on emergency responses after disasters occur.

The party argues that prevention must become the central priority instead of recurring emergency interventions once fires have already spread.

KKE frames the wildfire crisis as evidence of broader structural failures of the Greek state. According to the party, the repeated destruction demonstrates that public safety and environmental protection are subordinated to economic priorities serving business interests. It therefore calls on workers and local communities to transform public anger over the fires into organized political struggle for a different model of development centered on public needs, environmental protection and strengthened public services.

(Photo: Panagiotis Balaskas/EUROKINISSI)