Thousands of farmers demanding financial aid gathered in front of the Greek parliament building in Athens on Tuesday to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s recent statements that it no longer has anything to give to those working in the farming sector.
Greek farmers are also complaining about foreign competition and the government’s policy of lowering the price of agricultural products, as well as demanding 100 per cent compensation for lost crops after the floods last September, which they say the government has failed to provide. A farmer from central Greece told CGTN:
“We have no protection. And those that were affected by Storm Daniel will receive some money – but is it enough for them to live? Their farms have become mud and are destroyed. They cannot grow anything. Their lives are pretty much done. They will have to change jobs.”
Earlier, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis proposed lowering electricity bills for farmers for the next 10 years. It was a move designed to address their concerns and persuade them to stop demonstrating.
However, it was not enough to prevent them from mobilising in the Greek capital. The leader of the main opposition party joined the protest and accused the government of abandoning farmers to their fate. Syriza party leader Stefanos Kasselakis told CGTN:
“The farmers of this country have been left woefully behind and they have every right to try to survive and to support the primary sector of the economy. We are here for them, and we will not apologize for them.”
A 53-year-old farmer who gave his name as Grigoris said:
“This is our answer to the Greek government. We’re not afraid, and we won’t retreat.”
Farmers claim that high inflation and cheap imports from outside the EU are negatively affecting the Greek agricultural industry. They promise to continue mass protests if the government does not heed their demands.
