Protesting Greek farmers, who have sporadically but only briefly blocked roads with their tractors, said they want a face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to explain their grievances, which center mostly on their demand for favorable tax treatment.
Samaras earlier offered them a big package of concessions which they rejected, saying they would not relent until they get everything they want and the government bows to all their demands.
Frustrated with a lack of progress, farmer union leaders said they would not back down and on Feb. 14 about 500 of them clashed with police at a road junction.
“This is our answer to the government’s refusal to talk to us,” said Harilaos Archontis, a unionist in Larissa, according to the newspaper Kathimerini. There were scuffles at other points on major roads as well, leading to the arrest of 12 farmers.
There is no sign the stalemate would break although the farmers have frequently warned they would shut down the country’s major arteries but have not moved to do so.
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