Greek farmers intensify roadblocks while waiting for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to return from Brussels and sit at the negotiating table with them.
In an effort to strengthen their bargaining position, farmers have tightened blockades in 68 points on national highways across Greece. However, they are divided to two groups: Those who wish to have a dialogue with the prime minister and those who insist that the social security and taxation draft that affects them is withdrawn altogether.
Nevertheless, transport of goods and traffic are greatly affected by the blockades. Furthermore, farmers have blocked the Kipi checkpoint on the border with Turkey, creating a line of vehicles that extends kilometer.
At Promahonas, the checkpoint on the border with Bulgaria, there is constant tension, with hundreds of trucks unable to transport products to northern Europe.
The Tempi roadblock is remaining in place indefinitely, thus affecting greatly the connection between northern and southern Greece. Farmers at the Tempi block are adamant that they won’t move an inch unless the government scraps the bill. The same applies to another key point, the toll station at Malgara.
In other protest actions, farmers started blocking city streets, government buildings and tax offices. On Thursday, farmers paraded with their tractors in Kilkis and blocked the entrance to the tax office with bales of hay.
Trikala farmers also blocked the entrance to the city’s tax office and demonstrated outside the SYRIZA party office, shouting slogans against the government.
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