With tractors, buses and private vehicles, thousands of farmers from all over Greece are descending to downtown Athens for the big protest rally scheduled on Tuesday, February 20, 2024.
Initially the Ministry for Citizen’s Protection did not consent to tractors rally in the city, however, the farmers insisted and the government gave the green light in order to avoid further escalation.
The Ministry wanted to limit the number of tractor to enter the center of Greek capital up to 100-120 in order to avoid chaos and the total collapse of traffic. However, according to latest information Monday afternoon, an unlimited number of tractors will be allowed to reach the Parliament, opposite the Syntagma square.
A pre-gathering is scheduled at Omonia square at 5;30 p.m. , while everyone will head towards Parliament and Syntagma at 6:30 p.m., estate broadcaster ERT reported.
Around 100 tractors and over 60 buses from flood-ridden Thessaly alone are expected to descend to Athens.
Video: A tractor convoy already left Platykampos by Larissa, central Greece for Athens on Monday morning. The tractors will gather at Kastro Boiotia where they will spend the night and will start on Tuesday morning for Athens.
Tractors use one lane of the old national road Lamia-Athens at a speed of 30 km/h. The two-ways cost per tractor is estimated at 300 euro, something that protesters take into account hoping have their demands met.
Among others, farmers demand lower fuel and agricultural material costs, reduced electricity expenses, and a renegotiation of the EU’s new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).
The government expects that after the rally in Athens, mobilizations will ease. It has reiterated on Monday, that it has nothing more to give to farmers.
Surveys indicate that around 70% of Greeks stand in solidarity with the farmers’ cause.
All opposition parties expressed their solidarity a day before the big protest rally, while there are reports that students and unionists are going to join the rally on Tuesday.
The farmers plan to stay in downtown Athens 24 hours.
Traffic police is expected to make relevant announcements later on Monday afternoon. KTG will keep you updated.
It is advisable to avoid the center of Athens from Tuesday afternoon onward.
