Greek farmers are preparing to block national highways in January, when the bills on tax hikes and security fund reforms will be tabled in parliament.
Farmer unions from all over Greece met on Sunday and decided to coordinate protest rallies. President of the Federation of Farmers Unions of Karditsa Vangelis Boutas suggested blocking all major highways after January 10. Every regional union will decide which parts of the highways they will block, according to their territory.
During the meeting it was stressed that protest actions should take place all over Greece so that their protest is felt and their demands heard throughout the country.
Boutas said that the new bills on farmer taxation aim at “putting ownership of farmlands in the hands of the few.”
“We believe we can mobilize and unite all farmers,” Boutas said amid wild applause.
Yiannis Margaritidis, president of the federation of Farmers Unions of Evros, briefed participants on the actions taken so far, while his Argolida counterpart Nikos Angelou said that the government actions and the European Union policies aim at destroying small farmers and called for continuous struggles.
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