Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has called on protesting farmers to enter talks with the government and stop blocking major roads, as nationwide demonstrations caused severe disruption to traffic and freight transport on Monday.
Farmers escalated action by blocking key highways and border crossings, creating kilometre-long queues of trucks and effectively splitting the country in two.
Sections of the Athens–Thessaloniki highway were closed for hours, while blockades were also reported on the Ionian Motorway, the E65 highway, and at border crossings with Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
Speaking to Action 24 TV, Mitsotakis questioned why farmers were refusing dialogue while intensifying protests.
“What I do not understand is how, while you are protesting and taking fairly aggressive actions, closing roads and disrupting society, you do not want to come and listen to the government’s thoughts and proposals,” he said.
He warned that continued roadblocks risk undermining their case. “If we want to find a solution to this issue, it can only come through sincere dialogue,” he said, adding that the disruptions were harming society as a whole.
Mitsotakis also noted that some farmers were willing to engage but were facing pressure from fellow protesters.
The PM expressed hope that farmers would ease blockades during the New Year and Epiphany holiday period to support travel, economic activity and market supply, saying, “These are important days for the country’s economic activity and for supplying the market, and I believe this is something everyone understands.”
Some farmer groups said they may temporarily relax restrictions over the holidays but warned protests would continue if their concerns are not addressed.
Source: Ekathimerini.
