As holidays end, roadblocks remain, with farmers proceeding with a 48-hour blockade of roads, bypasses and customs on Thursday and Friday, in a development that signals rapid escalation. At the Maximos Mansion alarm bells have sounded and yesterday late in the afternoon a meeting was held under Kyriakos Mitsotakis to assess the overall situation and make decisions. At the nationwide meeting in Malgara, the proposal from the Nikaia blockade, which called for escalation of mobilizations, ultimately prevailed. In this climate, the farmers’ next moves are expected to determine the government’s reaction, which had informally set Epiphany as a deadline. Already the recommendations the prime minister is receiving concern tougher moves and stricter actions.
Considering sanctions against farmers and potential meeting – What the government is examining
This is the so-called plan B, which mainly concerns the imposition of administrative sanctions and fines for illegal acts, such as occupying road surfaces, obstructing movement, free passage through tolls, etc. Government sources say that at this juncture implementing the alternative action plan will not be the government’s choice, however plan B remains in the Maximos Mansion drawer in case the phenomenon continues. Although farmers persist in their mobilizations, it seems the possibility of a meeting continues to remain on the horizon for the coming period. Under the condition – according to statements by farmer representatives – that the government proceed with specific commitments on electricity and fuel prices. Among what was said in Malgara, farmers requested to discuss with Kyriakos Mitsotakis on specific issues and proposals, while calling on the government not to add fuel to the fire by proceeding with police measures and prosecutions. “In government we recorded 27 farmer demands and we have responded that 16 have already been satisfied, meaning some demands have been absolutely clarified and others must be the subject of dialogue,” emphasized Minister of Agricultural Development and Food Kostas Tsiaras (ERTnews).
Soft line toward farmers fades
Calls for dialogue will continue, however the soft line is fading and will be abandoned, with the government emphasizing that on the agricultural issue it has shown good will and seriousness. “The prime minister gave a message before the holidays for dialogue and such an invitation is by no means pretextual, since the government is taking concrete steps,” Mr. Tsiaras emphasized and added: “People have suffered enough and this suffering does injustice to the farmers’ effort.”
Simultaneously the government conveys that generally in Greece and Europe there are challenges for sustainability – resilience from the fiscal framework of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which also provides for future resource redistribution, while the European Union foresees agreements with third countries. “And if zoonoses are added, discussion with comprehensive redesign is required,” commented the Minister of Agricultural Development. Regarding agricultural payments, Mr. Tsiaras emphasized that in a difficult year, with payment delays due to OPEKEPE, higher payments to the agricultural sector were recorded, as the government once again leaned over the problems. “The largest compensation from any European country for animal cullings was given, which is why the prime minister announced income replacement for a one-year period. There is a livestock capital reconstruction program,” he added.
Published in Apogeumatini
