Determined to continue their mobilizations throughout the country, farmers remain at their blockades ahead of Christmas, emphasizing however that starting today they will proceed with rearrangements to facilitate traveler traffic. The National Committee of Blockades coordinates the actions, while police warn of safety risks to drivers due to tractors remaining on the roads.
At the same time, the passage through national roads with tractors lined up on both sides creates serious issues regarding the ability to serve such a large volume of cars, making it practically impossible to calculate average travel time for most people. Safety concerns are also raised on roads when tractors are lined up on the sides or occupying one third of the roadway, and farmers maintain an uncompromising stance for now, although the government remains in favor of exhausting dialogue options. Indeed, this situation pushes many drivers to use bypass roads, further increasing their travel time.
“The road will open completely, we will line up tractors on the left and right,” announced from the Malgara blockade
Giorgos Botas, member of the coordination committee of the Malgara blockade, speaking to Parapolitika 90.1 and the show “Morning Departure” with Eris Panagou, emphasized that the road will open temporarily. “In a few hours the road will open completely” and the tractors “will be lined up on the left and right of the road,” so that traffic can continue smoothly. He conveyed that mobilizations will continue after the holidays, while mentioning they will spend Christmas on the road, “as there is no other choice.”
See HERE all blockades in the country
Mapping the blockades – Central Greece
Farmers in Central Greece remain at their blockades declaring they will not back down unless their demands are satisfied. Farmers remain at all national highway blockade points and have decided to continue their actions during the holidays.
In Bralos, tractors remain on the national highway, however for today it was decided not to close the parallel roads and provincial network, to avoid serious traffic problems. The president of the Agricultural Association of Lamia, Giorgos Paliouras, characteristically noted that “this particular stance is a conscious choice. We want to facilitate people passing through our area, without creating additional problems for them during these days.” At the same time, he clearly implied that immediately after the holidays the mobilizations will intensify.
Photos from blockades across the territory
Chalcida
In Chalcida, farmers from Evia have announced a 3-hour blockade of the High Bridge, from 18:00 to 21:00, with simultaneous closure of bypass roads, while traffic will be conducted only through the old bridge. Yesterday, farmers from Evia, in cooperation with colleagues from Thebes, were at the Afidnes toll stations, raising the barriers and allowing free passage of vehicles.
What will apply at the Castro and Thebes blockades
At the Castro and Thebes blockades, tractors remain lined up, with local assemblies being called to decide the next steps.
For tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday, farmers plan to leave one traffic lane open per direction, to facilitate movements ahead of the holidays. However, the message emanating from all Central Greece blockades is clear. Throughout Christmas, in Bralos, Atalanti, Castro, Thebes and Chalcida, farmers and tractors will remain at mobilization points, continuing a struggle that, as they say, they cannot abandon.
Farmers continue mobilizations in Arta, Louros Preveza, Kalpaki Ioannina and Igoumenitsa
In Epirus, farmers, livestock breeders and beekeepers continue their mobilizations at the 4 blockades set up in Arta, Louros Preveza, Kalpaki Ioannina and Igoumenitsa.
In Arta, tractors remain lined up on the Ionia Highway bridge in both traffic streams. The picture is similar at the Louros blockade, at the town’s exit on the national highway towards Preveza.
The agricultural-livestock association “THYAMIS,” together with farmers, livestock breeders, beekeepers from the Igoumenitsa port blockade, distributed tangerines at the Tyria toll stations last night to all passing cars. As they said, this action “was not a simple treat, but a thank you for the understanding, patience and support of citizens in their struggle.”
Tonight, from 8 to 10, they are expected to proceed with a two-hour blockade of the outer Igoumenitsa port for trucks.
At the Kalpaki blockade tonight, farmers will conduct a 3-hour blockade for trucks to and from the Greek-Albanian border at Kakavia.
Epirus farmers declare they are determined to continue mobilizations until all demands are satisfied, while due to the days they are even decorating Christmas trees at the blockades.
Western Thessaly farmers also remain at blockades
“We’re not leaving here. We continue the struggle.” This is the message sent by western Thessaly farmers at the E65 blockades, while new tractors reinforce the two blockades. Daily informational assemblies are held and they organize various actions within the framework of the national blockade meeting in Serres.
Karditsa farmers in their assembly decided to keep one lane per direction of E-65 open from tomorrow, Tuesday, to facilitate citizen movements for Christmas holidays.
Western Greece farmers and livestock breeders on alert – remain at blockades
Farmers and livestock breeders in Western Greece are on alert, remaining at blockades set up in Aetolia-Acarnania, Achaia and Elis and are expected to make decisions about new forms of their mobilizations.
In Aetolia-Acarnania, farmers and livestock breeders who have been at the Angelokastro blockade on the “Ionia” highway for the 17th consecutive day are expected to hold a general assembly tonight at 20:00, for briefing and decision-making.
Meanwhile, as part of their mobilizations they blocked the Kouvara junction in Agrinio on Sunday night for one hour, while continuing information actions.
In Achaia, farmers and livestock breeders remain for the 15th consecutive day at the Eglykada blockade, on the main ring road of Patras, which is part of the Corinth-Patras-Pyrgos motorway. Also, tonight they are expected to hold a general assembly to make new decisions.
In Kalavryta, after Sunday’s mobilization with the symbolic blockade of the city entrance, farmers and livestock breeders are expected to decide their next moves.
In Aigialeia, farmers and livestock breeders remain at the Selinountas bridge junction in Aigion, without blocking traffic on the “Olympia” highway.
In Elis, farmers and livestock breeders continue to remain at blockades they have set up at the Pyrgos junction, on the old Patras-Pyrgos national highway in Lechaina and on the Patras-Tripoli national highway, at the height of Amaliada.
