New Year’s Day on the blockades for farmers – The time of the crucial meeting

For the first time in the history of farmers’ mobilisations, farmers and livestock breeders rang in the New Year at the blockades, continuing what they describe as a struggle for survival, despite government efforts to weaken their protests.

Tractors and agricultural machinery remain parked along the sides of roads, keeping the national road network open.

Farmers and livestock breeders are also keeping the option of escalation on the table, with all eyes on the crucial nationwide meeting set for Sunday, 4 January, in Malgara. More than 50 blockades are expected to take part in Sunday’s gathering, with the vast majority appearing determined.

For its part, the Traffic Police have decided to implement temporary traffic diversions, as they did over Christmas.

The most time-consuming detour is in Boeotia, where vehicles are diverted from Martino to Kastro. The second major bottleneck is at the Nikaia interchange in Larissa, with a detour of about half an hour. Shorter diversions are in place in Pieria, Nea Anchialos and Bralos, while the Malgara toll station remains open.

The blockade at Prasina Fanaria was the first to be lifted, following an announcement that representatives of certain blockades are in favour of dialogue with the government.

The government, however, is persisting in what is seen as a confrontational and dead-end strategy. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis directly criticised the farmers in his New Year’s message, referring to “blockades against society.”

Meanwhile, the Minister of Rural Development, Kostas Tsiaras, underscored the level of agricultural subsidies in a message issued ahead of the New Year.

According to him, support to the primary sector reached €3.8 billion in 2025, an increase of around €600 million compared to the previous year.

“These figures are not open to dispute. There are no excuses anymore,” he stressed, adding that “we know there have been shortcomings and weaknesses,” which are being addressed through “corrective interventions, restoring real injustices.”

Mr Tsiaras also emphasised that the “substantial and radical restart of the primary sector requires the participation of the producers themselves,” noting that “the agendas of the few must not undermine the concerns of the many.”

Earlier, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis referred to the government’s “plan B,” which remains on the table: the imposition of administrative fines on tractor owners taking part in blockades.

He said that “we must not reach that point,” but warned that the government will examine all available alternatives.

Public Order Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis stated that the government has decided “not to use lawful force” against the farmers.

In practical terms, however, it is impossible for the police to remove thousands of tractors from national highways. Behind the scenes, even extreme “solutions” were discussed, such as the use of armoured military vehicles, but these were clearly rejected as undemocratic.

Assembly on Saturday in Nikaia – New Year’s Eve at the blockades with live music

Farmers in Thessaly marked the change of year in a different, militant way this year. Refusing to abandon their struggle, they turned the Nikaia blockade in Larissa into a place of celebration, sending a message of unity and determination for 2026. Hundreds of farmers, together with their families and local residents who came to show their support, set up a large open-air New Year’s Eve celebration next to the lined-up tractors and flags.

Bonfires, mulled wine, barbecues and a live band created the festive atmosphere on New Year’s Eve. It is worth noting that although the National Road and the E65 motorway remain closed at this point, farmers are keeping their word and leaving the alternative routes open to serve holiday travellers.

On Friday, the coordination committee of the Nikaia blockade will meet, while on Saturday an assembly will be held by the farmers who have been there for 33 days.

To facilitate New Year holiday traffic, farmers opened the overpass above the Nikaia blockade. The crossing mainly serves drivers travelling from Athens to Thessaloniki, while those heading towards Athens are diverted via Platycampos, the old Larissa–Volos national road and Kileler.

New Year’s Day at the blockade in Kastro, Boeotia

On New Year’s Eve afternoon, the coordination committee of the Kastro Boeotia blockade met to decide on the stance it will take at Sunday’s nationwide meeting in Malgara.

One lane in each direction will remain open until Monday, as decided by the farmers, while traffic towards Athens is diverted about eight kilometres earlier, at Martino.

Towards Athens, traffic is channelled through service roads, while towards Thessaloniki it proceeds through one lane, with alternative routes via Anthili and Atalanti.

Heavy vehicles and trucks are excluded, while passage is allowed for the transport of livestock and medicines. Traffic diversion is carried out at the Martino interchange.

In Thebes, farmers have decided to keep both directions of traffic open until 3 January.

Malgara tolls open in both directions

The Malgara toll station remains open in both directions, as farmers at that blockade are awaiting the nationwide conference to be held there on Saturday, in order to determine their next steps.

Farmers from eastern Thessaloniki, specifically those at the Prasina Fanaria blockade, have decided not to take part in Saturday’s nationwide conference in Malgara, having previously distanced themselves and called for immediate dialogue with the government.

Evros: Free passage for trucks until 2 January

In a gesture of goodwill ahead of New Year’s Day, farmers in Evros temporarily lifted the blockades at border crossings, facilitating professional drivers.

Truck traffic to and from Greece is proceeding normally and without problems at both fronts of the agricultural mobilisations in Evros. According to ERT, traffic is flowing freely at both the Kipi customs checkpoint on the Greek–Turkish border and at the Ormenio interchange, a few kilometres before the Greek–Bulgarian border.

Farmers in Western Macedonia remain at the blockades

With temperatures dropping to minus 12 degrees Celsius, farmers in Western Macedonia remain at their makeshift shelters and even cut a second New Year’s cake for friends at the Filotas blockade and the Niki border crossing.

At the Siatista blockade, farmers welcomed the new year with their families and friends, while vehicle traffic continues normally without problems, with tractors remaining lined up at the blockade.