Nearly 35 days after the start of the farmers’ protests, a breakthrough for a meeting between farmers and the government has still not been found, so that both sides can sit at the same table and seek solutions to issues affecting the primary sector. At noon today, a new nationwide meeting of farmers will take place in Malgara, where their representatives are expected to take crucial decisions on the future of the mobilizations.

The three camps at the meeting

Almost 50 protest blockades from across Greece will be represented in Malgara. It is a given that representatives, holding the decisions of their general assemblies, will present them during the meeting. According to information, these positions can be grouped into three main camps.

The first camp consists of those who want to open dialogue, through mediation with the Prime Minister’s Office (Maximos Mansion). These are mainly representatives from Malgara, who argue that it should be explored whether the conditions exist for a meeting at this time. However, this proposal is unlikely to gain much support, as most blockades have already decided on escalation after Epiphany.

The second camp concerns the escalation of farmers’ protests and is a proposal expected to be backed by many blockades. It is the proposal to be put forward by the Nikaia blockade and αφορά a 48-hour shutdown of at least two key transport hubs next Thursday and Friday. There will be an in-depth discussion on how such an action should be organized in order to pressure the government into offering solutions, as farmers have decided to effectively cut Greece in two.

The third camp supports bringing tractors to Athens. This proposal is strongly backed by blockades from the Peloponnese and Evros, as well as others from different regions. Such a move will be discussed at the meeting, but if implemented, it appears it would take place after the planned 48-hour traffic blackout next week—and only if, by then, the conditions for dialogue with the government have still not emerged.

At the same time, farmers make it clear that even if the decision is made to mobilize in Athens, this action will not mark the end of this year’s protests.