Farmers Escalate Protests as Standoff With Government Deepens

Farmers across Greece are intensifying nationwide blockades as their standoff with the government shows no signs of easing. Roadways, ports, airports and border crossings have been disrupted for days, with farmers refusing to participate in negotiations unless they can continue their demonstrations without conditions.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated that the government’s “door is always open,” but insisted that any dialogue must occur with the “roads open.” Farmers have dismissed this approach, calling it a non-starter and accusing the government of attempting to undermine their leverage.

The situation has escalated into a test of strength between the two sides. Government officials emphasize the need to maintain “law and order,” warning of the financial toll blockades impose on other sectors. Their expectation that tensions would ease as subsidy payments continue through the holiday period has not materialized. Instead, farmers have gained public backing from opposition parties and even from former prime ministers Kostas Karamanlis and Antonis Samaras.