Farmers and livestock breeders increase their pressure on the Greek government, appear once again determined to continue their protests and warn of upcoming 48-hour roadblocks including the side-roads of highways and “invasion of tractors” in capital Athens.
They do not reject entering a dialogue with the government, however, they want guarantees that such a meeting will be more productive than “having cookies with the Prime Minister as it happened in the last five years”, as one frustrated protester put it.
After a short break over the New Year days to facilitate the movement of the holidaymakers, farmers and breeders dynamically returned to the roadblocks on Saturday, blocking on and off the traffic or leaving just a lane open for passengers vehicles and trucks carrying Greek products.
As the massive return of holidaymakers to the urban centers is expected especially on Sunday, January 4, police reportedly warns travelers to avoid moving during the traffic peak times.
A nationwide meeting scheduled for Sunday noon in Malgara, outside Thessaloniki in northern Greece where representatives from 50 blocks will take crucial decisions for their future mobilization.
Several blocks have held meetings on Saturday, with the majority of them to have decided in favor of an escalation of protests.
So far, one block, the one at the “Green Lights” in Thessaloniki appears to have distanced from the other blocks and wants to go to a direct dialogue with the government.
It seems as if the government has not managed to split the farmers’ protest front ongoing since November 30, 2025.
It is worth noting that the government has threatened the protesters with “administrative fines” for blocking roads and lifting toll bars allowing motorists to drive through free of charge, giving them a deadline until January 6.
It is only after January 7, that the Parliament opens again and the relative legislation can be approved with the 159 MPs of ruling New Democracy.
Meanwhile, the government remains intransigent with Minister of rural Development & Food Costas Tsiaras to repeat an invitation for dialogue, saying at the same time that the government has paid over 3 billion euros to the sector in 2025 and that’s all.
Farmers at the Prasina Fanaria roadblock near Thessaloniki have reiterated their support for immediate talks with the government, noting that while their blockade continues to grow, discussions are underway to shape an agenda for negotiations.
At the Nikaia junction near the central city of Larissa – one of the main protest sites since mobilizations began about a month ago – the roadblock’s coordinating committee is due to meet on Friday. A general assembly of farmers who have been camped there for 33 days is scheduled for Saturday.
