Farmers remain steadfast: Mobilizations escalate – Preparing blockades leading up to the holidays

The farmers continue their protests, with blockades being strengthened in many areas of the country while simultaneously planning to extend their stay at the blocked points. Thousands of tractors are stationed on national roads and customs posts, with livestock breeders and producers declaring that they will not back down unless their demands are met. They also warn that they will not enter into any dialogue without conditions that would undermine their struggle. They intend to remain at the blockades until the holidays.

Farmers’ blockades: Escalation of protests in Thessaly

The Athens-Thessaloniki National Road remains closed at the Nikaia junction in Larisa, while farmers from Boeotia have brought their tractors to the E65 highway near Thebes. In Thessaly, more than 4,000 tractors are positioned at the Nikaia junction, as well as on the E65 highway near Karditsa and the toll stations of Loggos in Trikala. Despite heavy rain at the Nikaia blockade, security teams stayed alongside their tractors. On Sunday, the blockade is expected to meet and decide on the next steps. Escalation is expected from Monday, possibly involving symbolic closures of bypass roads.

Objective: Blockading the Port of Volos

This weekend, blockades are expected in Central Greece, in Bralo and Kastro. Next week, all eyes are on the nationwide coordination meeting to organize all the blockades and protests.
In a pan-Thessalian meeting, farmers decided to toughen their stance starting Monday with customs blockades and large mobilizations aimed at blocking the Port of Volos, likely mid-week or Wednesday/Thursday. Final decisions will be made on Sunday. The blockades are being reinforced, as new tractors are expected to join the largest blockade in Greece, at Karditsa on the E65, with another nearby blockade at the Loggos toll stations in Trikala.

Achaia blockades

Despite the adverse weather conditions, farmers in Achaia continue to strengthen their forces. Currently, there are three blockades in the region: one in Kato Achaia, one with more than 100 tractors in Itea, and one in Aigialeia on the Selinounta bridge. Farmers at the Kato Achaia toll stations have once again closed the Patras-Pyrgos highway and the old Patras-Pyrgos national road. The farmers aim for a large gathering, a united, powerful movement by all the farmers in Achaia. The farmers of Aetolia-Acarnania are expected to join, with a blockade at the Angelokastro junction on the Ionian Road, as well as farmers from Vonitsa, who are expected to head to the Aktio toll stations.

Seven customs posts blocked

Farmers have set up blockades at the customs posts of Kipi, Exochi, Promachonas, Evzoni, Niki, and the Kalpaki junction leading to the Kakavia Customs. Only the passage of trucks is restricted for a few hours or indefinitely, depending on local farmers’ decisions.
Traffic resumed normally from 6 p.m. on Friday (5/12) at the Promachonas border post as farmers opened both traffic lanes, having previously closed it for trucks only. The blockade at Kipi Customs in Evros continues for the fifth consecutive day, with over 200 tractors and agricultural machines participating, starting from Tuesday afternoon, December 2.
Passenger vehicles and buses are passing normally through one lane, both entering and exiting the country, and trucks carrying perishable goods are allowed to pass. However, about 500 trucks remain stuck on the Greek side on the old Alexandroupolis-Ormenio national road near the village of Ardani and on the Egnatia axis near the village of Provato.
As a gesture of goodwill, farmers allowed more than 170 trucks to exit Greece from Tuesday evening. On Thursday, the farmers of Lesvos joined the protests by spilling milk on the road and burning hay.

Tension and chemicals at Prasina Fanaria

Tension occurred on Friday afternoon at the Green Lanterns in Thessaloniki, where farmers attempted to bypass the police blockade near the farm of the University of Thessaloniki to head towards Macedonia Airport. Farmers reported four injuries, including from the tear gas deployed in the area, where police forces are preventing them from walking through the university farm towards the airport. The farmers also blocked traffic at the Thermi flyover. Tractors allowed only vulnerable groups, such as ambulances, to pass, but the blockade did not last long, and the farmers released the traffic after about an hour.