Roundup: Greek farmers' protest against pension reforms reaches capital

A month after the launch of nationwide mobilizations against the planned pension and taxation systems overhaul, thousands of Greek farmers took their protest to the center of capital Athens on Friday.

Tensions have risen across government buildings, central squares and road tolls across the Greek capital and its suburbs in several cases, as protesters clashed with riot police.

Ten policemen have been slightly injured, Public Order Minister Nikos Toskas told the national broadcaster ERT, while four farmers have been detained outside the Agricultural Ministry, according to police.

The scuffles in front of the ministry started when a delegation of farmers from Crete island sought to enter to give a petition to officials.

When police did not allow them access, protesters started hurling rocks, tomatoes and confronting riot forces using traditional wooden shepherds' crooks. Police responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Meanwhile, another group of protesting producers was briefly blocking a highway leading to the Athens international airport, causing long lines of cars.

Friday's protests culminated in a massive march to the parliament with demonstrators waving Greek flags and chanting slogans such as "You betrayed us. We will not back down."

Farmers from across Greece were joined in by other professionals, as the umbrella union of public servants ADEDY, other workers associations and the Communist party KKE affiliated trade union PAME also took to the streets in protest of the Left-led government's plans for pension system reform and taxation changes.

Since mid-January more than 15,000 farmers have set up more than 60 blockades throughout Greece in key national highways junctions and border crossings closing traffic for several hours each day.

Police set up their own road blocks across the Greek capital from early Friday to prevent tractors from entering the city, as farmers had announced their intention to reach the parliament on tractors and camp on Syntagma square until Monday.

Following at least two rounds of scuffles between protesters and police in such road blocks, the Public Order Ministry decided to allow farmers to symbolically drive 20 tractors to Syntagma square, where other producers had already set up tents and were handing out fruits to passersby.

Farmer unions as well as other labor unions demand that the government withdraws the unpopular proposals that lead to new tax hikes and pension cuts.

The government argues that the reform is the only way forward to ensure the sustainability of the pension insurance system.

The pension system reform is a key prerequisite in the ongoing assessment of Greece's new bailout. The country's international creditors are pushing for the ratification of the reform in order to disburse further aid to Athens.

At the same time the government is facing an escalating wave of protests in recent weeks from several professional groups ranging from farmers and public servants to self-employed lawyers, doctors and entrepreneurs of small and medium size companies.

Protesters express anger with the ruling Radical Left SYRIZA party, recalling that a year ago before assuming power Tsipras and current ministers were promising voters that they would tear up bailouts and put an outright end to austerity.

Following marathon negotiations with lenders, the Left-led government signed Greece's third bailout in three years, undertaking commitments for painful reforms in exchange of more loans and debt relief to avert default and Grexit and restore stability and growth.

Although SYRIZA was re-elected in September's snap general polls, Greeks have gradually returned to streets protesting the measures, as the government drafts the relevant bills. Endit