The seventh successive debate at the Council of State over the Pharaonic project of diverting the River Acheloos raises an issue that matches in significance the environmental disaster in question.

This is none other than the smooth enforcement of Greece’s rule of law.

When the Greek state, through the Ministry of Public Works, fails to respect the decisions of a supreme court, how can we expect the average Greek citizen to respect the rulings of lower courts?

The enforcement of Council of State rulings is inextricably linked with the sound operation of the country’s democratic institutions. The fact that the Council’s rulings have to be enforced by the European Court reflects poorly on the country’s political system, 33 years after the end of the dictatorship.