Amid the implementation of the new bailout’s reforms, Greek farmers will continue to protest on the streets of Northern Greece until the September 20 Greek elections.
The farmers had taken their tractors to the streets since Wednesday in protest against the additional farming taxes that are prescribed by the new bailout. According to the new legislation, Greek farmers will have to pay 55% of the following year’s taxes, instead of the existing 27.5% payment. Various farming associations had proclaimed their intent to initiate this September 16 protest back in late August.
Farmers plan to keep their tractors in the streets until Sunday’s Greek elections, according to the Greek media. Kathimerini newspaper notes that on Sunday farming tractors plan to block the entry of foreign foods, that could be produced in Greece.
“We are not office farmers, we work on the fields and we know what we want and what primary production needs. We know how to talk, we use the internet, we have an opinion. All the politicians that are asking for our vote tell us “the primary sector will save us” and then do nothing” Kathimerini quotes the Panhellenic Coordinating Committee of Farmers President Christos Gkontias as saying.
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