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Greek farmers end road blockades, warn of more anti-reform protests

Xinhua, February 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Greek farmers announced on Sunday the end of road blockades and customs offices closures after six weeks of mobilizations, warning however with more protests against the planned pension system and taxation reforms in coming days unless the government takes into account their requests.

Thousands of tractors have been gradually being removed from national highways as representatives of the 69 blockades set up across Greece since mid-January decided in a gathering in central Greece to suspend their mobilization.

More than 15,000 farmers had hit the streets in protest of the promoted changes that triple contributions to social insurance funds and taxes.

Protesters claimed that the reforms would lead to the "death of the small farmer."

The government responded that the changes are necessary under the bailout commitments to secure more loans, to ensure the sustainability of the crumbling pension system and share taxation burdens fairly among taxpayers.

After the start of a dialogue with the government lately the farmers decided to open the roads for now, warning that they will remain alert and get back on the streets if their demands are not met when the draft bills will reach the parliament for vote in coming weeks.

In an attempt to diffuse tensions, the government pledged to ease the pain by gradually introducing the reforms until 2021.

"We are not stopping our struggle. We only change the way we fight. We will join our voices again with other protesting professionals in coming days," Vangelis Boutas, a member of the farmers coordinating committee, told Greek national news agency AMNA.

Various professionals, ranging from doctors, lawyers and civil engineers to farmers and seamen, have staged strikes and protests against the tax and pension overhaul this winter.

In particular the farmers mobilization, according to estimates of the Panhellenic Exporters Association, cost Greek economy about 30 million euros (32.8 million U.S. dollars) per day due to the roadblocks and closures of borders crossings. Endit