Tension between protesting farmers and riot police earlier in Thessaloniki on Friday, when a group of farmers attempted to break through the police cordon at the “Green Lights” location and move towards the “Macedonia” airport in order to set a blockade.
Approximately 15 people climbed over the fence of the American Agricultural School farm in order to head towards the airport. Squads of platoon of riot police intervened immediately and prevented more farmers from entering, using tear gas. New tension followed and the police forces made extensive use of tear gas to repel the farmers.
It should be noted that the tension was caused by a group of 25 people and not by the total of approximately 200 farmers present at the specific blockade.
Farmers are reportedly expected to meet with the heads of the farmers’ coordination committee soon to decide on their next steps.
Protesting farmers and livestock breeders are determined to continue their mobilization and they no longer accept the “dialogue” offered them by the government. All they want is the payment of the delayed subsidies and full compensation for the almost half a million sheep and goats culled since August 2024 due to the smallpox.
The protests that started last Sunday have lead to the biggest protest of the primary sector with over 6,000 tractors and agricultural machinery blocking highways and customs mostly in central and northern Greece. they have announced to block also ports and airports and escalate their mobilization in the coming days.
