“I am cautiously optimistic.” With this phrase, after the passage of the budget, Kyriakos Mitsotakis indicated his expectations regarding the course of rapprochement between the government and farmers, in a brief conversation with protothema.gr. The prime minister believes that the package supplemented yesterday by Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, following announcements the day before yesterday by the competent minister Kostas Tsiaras, could constitute an adequate framework for dialogue with representatives of the roadblocks—provided, however, that they also want it. Objectively, the ball is now in the farmers’ court.

Kostis Hatzidakis both specified and…increased the package put forward for discussion. He added to the equation €160 million for income replacement, €80 million for livestock farmers affected by sheep pox and who also face disproportionately high production costs due to insularity, and another €80 million for grain and cotton producers confronted with very low prices. Of course, also included are tax-free diesel at the pump—possibly with a barcode via mobile phone and strict safeguards against smuggling—cheaper agricultural electricity below 9 cents per kilowatt-hour, and an amendment to the ELGA regulation so that compensation reaches 100% in the event of a natural disaster.

At the same time, yesterday nearly €500 million were released by OPEKEPE and ELGA for regular payments and compensation for natural disasters, in an effort by the government to show that it means what it says and to normalize the flow of payments, with the goal that by the end of December €1.2 billion will have been paid out within a few weeks.

Meeting on Friday or else…

Given all this, the most likely day for a meeting between farmers and the government is Friday. The level of government representation is not a given, as the meeting could take place either with Mr. Mitsotakis, as in 2024, or with Mr. Hatzidakis and Mr. Tsiaras if Mr. Mitsotakis is unavailable due to obligations at the Brussels European Council, which may not conclude on Thursday evening. In any case, the government’s message to farmers is to come to the dialogue, as only there can further sectoral or local demands potentially be raised and satisfied.

The balance within the farmers’ ranks is delicate, and positions are not homogeneous. In a lighthearted moment, when Kyriakos Mitsotakis was entering the plenary hall yesterday afternoon, journalists asked him for his assessment of the roadblocks. “Ask here,” the prime minister said, pointing to Thanasis Pafilis of the KKE, who was passing by at the same time. Mr. Pafilis, however, also referred them to the roadblocks, where positions are conflicting. Some farmers believe that the package put forward by the government is the maximum they can get; others believe it is “crumbs” and that they should continue with mobilizations. The question, of course, is for what purpose.

Farmers will attempt to coordinate their positions at noon on Thursday in Lefkonas of Serres, a few kilometers from the Promachonas customs post. This will not be an easy exercise, and the location does not bode well for an easy discussion either, as farmers from the “cradle of Karamanlism” are taking the hardest line, given that many of them have not received money from what has been distributed in recent weeks and are subject to cross-check audits. If, however, there is a recommendation in favor of dialogue, then the meeting will be unlocked immediately.

AADE as a red line

If farmers persist in a hard line, the government will have to reconsider its stance. Already, behind the scenes, efforts are being made through communication channels to provide certain explanations regarding the announcements and to shape an environment for discussion that could lead to an agreement in principle and then to a suspension of mobilizations.

For Mr. Mitsotakis, however, a “red line” is the transfer of OPEKEPE under the AADE. Yesterday he made it clear in every tone that the reform is overdue but will proceed, and he announced that New Democracy will request a roll-call vote. On the one hand, this puts the ball in PASOK’s court to take a position. On the other, it sends a message to ND MPs who have expressed reservations about the correctness of this choice.