Yesterday’s day of farmers’ protests was marked by the unprecedented and wild incidents that took place in Crete, with farmers eventually managing to take over the region’s airport and flights being grounded for several hours. As a result of the incidents, two arrests were made, and 8 police officers were injured. These were two people who were identified as throwing stones at the airport, “Nikos Kazantzakis”.

In Patra, farmers attempted to occupy the city’s port yesterday while considering blocking the Rio-Antirio bridge. Also at noon on Monday, farmers from Karditsa blocked the office of their fellow rural development minister Kosta Tsiaras by throwing straw. Farmers from the Nikaia blockade yesterday afternoon blocked the side roads for two hours, giving the message that they can tighten the cordon as long as their problems are not solved. At the same time, many blockades are opening the points where they have been set up.

They insist on escalation

It is understood that farmers continue to escalate their struggle across Greece. Next Wednesday, farmers from Magnesia and fishermen in the region will blockade the commercial port of Volos next Wednesday, protesting the low prices of their produce. At the same time, this afternoon in Nicae, they are meeting to define their next steps and are preparing for a major action in Larissa.

At the end of the week, a nationwide meeting of farmers is expected to take place in Nikaia. There, they will first take stock of their struggle and determine their next moves. If they continue in the logic of escalation, we may be talking about blocking the Tempi River and occupying Ismos.

Hopes for meeting next week

And while the situation seems deadlocked with the government leaving the door to dialogue open, but the farmers not yet seeking one, it appears that both sides are working to eventually sit down at the table to discuss at some point.

According to reports, the government is already working on a primary sector aid package to address key issues raised by farmers. Not all points of the package may yet be locked in, but it is certain that interventions relating to production costs are being considered. Such interventions could be on the price of electricity and also on the duty-free oil that farmers are demanding. It is not excluded that there could also be intervention for products that have had very low prices this year.

On the other hand, the farmers during the national meeting to be held in Nice are expected to appoint a committee to be ready for a possible meeting with the government next week. Its outcome will largely determine whether or not the tractors will stay on the roads through the holidays.