Greek farmers are heading toward a frontal collision with the Greek government. Following a nationwide meeting in Nikea, Larissa, farmers have announced a major escalation in their protests, including a tractor convoy to Syntagma Square in Athens.
The movement is entering a new, decisive phase as demonstrators prepare to hold an overnight rally in the heart of the capital.
Farmers in Athens: The timeline of escalation
Greek farmers in Athens are preparing a series of escalating actions. On Friday, February 13, tractors will descend on the city for a mass rally at Syntagma Square, with protesters planning to hold an overnight vigil in the city center. Demonstrations are set to continue on Saturday, February 14, before participants depart.
Parallel protests are also planned in major cities across the country, and farmers have pledged a massive presence at the February 28 national mobilizations, which mark the three-year anniversary of the Tempi train tragedy.
Why negotiations with the government failed
Despite a high-level meeting between industry representatives and Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at Maximos Mansion, the farming community remains unsatisfied. Greek farmers who are protesting argue that Athens failed to provide substantive solutions to two critical issues:
- Income loss compensation: The measures announced are deemed insufficient for the long-term survival of agricultural holdings.
- Livestock crisis (sheep pox): The lack of an effective vaccination plan for breeders affected by sheep pox has become a “red flag” for the sector.
While Prime Minister Mitsotakis appealed for “an end to this period of high tension,” farmers maintain that promises have not translated into action. Feeling more united than ever, the agricultural world views the tractor convoy to Athens as their “final card” in pressuring the state for immediate relief.
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