The farmers are expected to officially announce their list of demands today. However, on Saturday they made it clear that they do not intend to go to the Maximos Mansion on Monday afternoon, following the invitation by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis that was announced from the floor of Parliament.

Today, a response from Kyriakos Mitsotakis is also expected via his weekly Facebook post, with government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis having already set the tone on Saturday. Speaking during the debate on the state budget, Marinakis referred to a “pretextual dialogue” when—according to him—there is no counterpart submitting demands. At the same time, he reiterated the government’s call for dialogue, but not with roads blocked, warning of legal consequences in the event of new blockades.

What the farmers are demanding

At the core of their demands are the high cost of production, delays in subsidies, and the long-standing problems of the primary sector.

Among other things, they are calling for:

• Dropping of prosecutions by Parliament
• Payment of outstanding funds
• Minimum guaranteed prices
• Electricity at 7 cents
• Tax-free diesel at the pump
• Cleaning up (reforming) OPEKEPE
• Redistribution of the stolen OPEKEPE funds to the rightful beneficiaries
• Making the names public
• Establishment of a special branch for fishers and beekeepers

Particular emphasis is placed on the problems faced by livestock farmers, who are dealing with a serious situation due to sheep pox. They are putting forward the following demands to address the issue:

• Vaccination
• Full compensation
• Replacement of lost income
• Free reconstitution of livestock herds

Producers say they are determined to remain at the roadblocks even during the holiday period, warning of new, more dynamic actions if there is no response.

“Until the government takes a position on these issues, we will not leave the roadblocks,” the farmers stress, according to onlarissa.gr, warning that their plans also include the possibility of closing bypass roads.