The government is now sending a clear message to farmers to de-escalate tensions, satisfy most of their demands, and gradually withdraw from road blockades, as today marks 25 consecutive days of farmer protests at numerous locations across the country. The government also pledges that within the coming days, before the year ends, all payments totaling 3.8 billion euros will be completed.
Speaking at the final cabinet meeting of 2025, Kyriakos Mitsotakis outlined the scope of farmer representatives’ demands that can be accepted and implemented, stating that “farmers have sent their messages, and the state has responded based on the economy’s capacity and the very specific commitments it has undertaken towards the European Union.” He reiterated that the government has resolved or intends to resolve 20 of the sector’s 27 demands.
No room for additional benefits to farmers
In consultations between the Maximos Mansion, government vice-presidency, and Ministry of Agricultural Development over the past three weeks, the established conviction is that there is no room for additional benefits to farmers beyond what is being implemented and what has been announced. They are well aware of the effort required during September-October to finally formulate the Action Plan for modernizing the agricultural subsidy management and control system and receive the Commission’s green light. Satisfying some of the demands raised by farmer representatives jeopardizes the agreement with the European Commission, which would have broader consequences.
The Prime Minister also made pointed remarks about the opposition parties’ stance, which voted against the OPEKEPE reform in Parliament last week, while simultaneously sending a message to blockade representatives that this cannot be subject to negotiation. “Our country is finally acquiring a fair and fast subsidy system to replace a practically bankrupt system. I want to remind everyone that, unfortunately, only our parliamentary group supported this very important reform in Parliament, which is obviously agreed upon with the European Commission and had become inevitable to acquire, as I said, a subsidy system truly characterized by transparency and effectiveness,” Mr. Mitsotakis stated.
Mitsotakis: Farmers must open roads for commerce, tourism, and markets to function
He then called on farmers to open the roads so that commerce, tourism, and transportation can function unimpeded. “Now I believe the time has come for shared responsibility towards society, towards commerce, transportation, and shipping, which obviously must be free, towards local markets that need to operate, towards winter destinations waiting these days to boost their revenues, and towards tens of thousands of travelers who have planned to celebrate these days in the provinces,” he said in his cabinet statement.
Mitsotakis to farmers: This government will not succumb to blackmail
Regarding the issue intensely discussed over the past 48 hours on social media about whether farmers at blockades are freeing traffic on some roads or lanes while police prohibit it, the Prime Minister took a clear position, emphasizing that “traffic police have the final say on liberating any road, and road safety is always the first and non-negotiable priority.” However, the main message Kyriakos Mitsotakis wanted to send in his final public statement on the matter this week was: “To those who prefer a paradox—demanding while refusing to discuss and speaking when we call them to dialogue—I’ll say it again: this government will not succumb to blackmail, nor can we favor one social group at the expense of others.”
