Farmers on the front lines – What they decided at the Nikaia roadblock

The farmers participating in the Nikaia roadblock outside Larissa decided on their next steps through to New Year’s Day during a meeting held shortly after 12:00 noon on Saturday (27/12).

The farmers decided to close the overpass that had been opened to traffic to serve Christmas holiday travelers, and to reopen it next Tuesday, December 30.

Tomorrow (28/12) at 12:00 noon, they will go to the Makrychori toll station and raise the barriers, allowing vehicles to pass freely for five hours.

On Monday (29/12), however, at 4:00 in the afternoon, all bypass roads will be closed for three hours, in both directions—toward Athens and toward Thessaloniki. “Nothing will pass, neither toward Thessaloniki nor toward Athens,” said Rizos Maroudas, president of the United Federation of Agricultural Associations of the Larissa prefecture. On the same day, tractors will once again head to the center of Larissa, with farmers distributing leaflets explaining to citizens why they are on the streets.

Mr. Maroudas attacked the government, saying that “every attempt to turn the Greek people against us boomerangs. All segments of society support us.” He also accused it of “freezing farmers’ bank accounts because they are at the roadblocks. Some cannot even submit OSDΕ declarations. These practices will not intimidate us under any circumstances. Our decision is a struggle for survival, and our survival is the red line beyond which we will not retreat.”

Responding to government claims that most demands have been satisfied, the Larissa-based farm unionist said, “We submitted 14 demands at the Nikaia meeting; of those 14, not a single one has been satisfied—not even those that do not require spending a single euro.”

Overpass closed at the Nikaia roadblock

According to the plan, from 1:00 p.m. the overpass at the Nikaia roadblock has been closed, interrupting vehicle traffic. This measure is expected to remain in force until Tuesday (30/12) at noon, when it will reopen to facilitate holiday travel.

Traffic measures in force

From midday on Saturday, December 27, extensive traffic measures came into effect on the PATHE motorway by decision of the Larissa Police Directorate, due to the farmers’ mobilizations and the establishment of a roadblock at the Nikaia interchange. The measures have been in force since 12:45 and will remain for as long as necessary, with the primary aim of traffic safety and accident prevention.

According to the decision, traffic on sections of the PATHE between the Platycampos, Kileler, and Velestino interchanges is suspended, with variations depending on direction and vehicle gross weight.

In the direction toward Athens, vehicles up to 3.5 tons cannot travel from the Platycampos interchange to Kileler, while heavy vehicles over 3.5 tons are barred up to Velestino. Similarly, in the direction toward Thessaloniki, light vehicles are prohibited from Kileler to Platycampos and heavy vehicles from Velestino to Platycampos.

Traffic is being diverted via alternative routes, mainly the Old National Road Larissa–Volos, with detours at the Platycampos, Kileler, and Velestino interchanges, depending on direction and vehicle category. Significant measures are also in effect on the Old National Road Larissa–Athens, where vehicles attempting to enter the PATHE from the Nikaia interchange are required to turn around and head to alternative interchanges.

Larissa Traffic Police urge drivers to be particularly cautious, follow signage and officers’ instructions, and plan their trips in advance. Non-compliance with the measures entails penalties under the Road Traffic Code.

Nationwide farmers’ meeting in the new year

At the same time, a decision has been taken to hold a nationwide farmers’ meeting in the new year, on a date and at a location to be determined, aimed at further coordinating mobilizations.

At the Malgara roadblock, at this time the direction toward Athens is being closed, while in the afternoon the ring road in Patras will also be closed.

Closure of the Evzones border checkpoint

Farmers are proceeding with a blockade of the Evzones border checkpoint; for now, traffic continues normally. Both the exit and entry lanes remain open until the mobilization begins. According to farmers, they are expected to position their tractors and proceed with a full blockade of both entry and exit for trucks and private vehicles. The blockade will last four hours.

Afterward, the checkpoint will open briefly to ease congestion, while from 18:00 to 22:00 a new blockade is expected. Farmers emphasize that these are symbolic actions.

Patras ring road to close Saturday afternoon (27/12)

Farmers in Patras are moving forward with new mobilizations and are considering closing the Patras Ring Road later in the afternoon. At present, traffic is flowing normally as the barrier remains open, but union representatives say they are leaning toward a blockade using the same method applied previously. As they stress, the aim is to exert pressure without fully disrupting the handling of emergency cases.

As for Angelokastro, no blockade is planned. Traffic will continue normally with two lanes per direction, and there is no intention to close the Antirrio–Ioannina National Road again.

Thus, the only point where intervention is expected is the Patras Ring Road—a move estimated to cause traffic problems within the city, as has happened in previous mobilizations.

Farmers from Corinthia submit a dossier of demands to Tsiaras

A dossier addressing long-standing problems of the primary sector, along with proposals that could substantially support farm income and the local economy, was submitted to the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, by representatives of farmers from Corinthia.

The demands include well-documented interventions on issues such as subsidies, risk management, the impacts of climate change, water management, production costs, and the smooth functioning of the market.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Rural Development and Food (ΥΠΑΑΤ), the proposals are based on real data and field experience, strengthening their credibility and facilitating substantive evaluation by the competent services.

Rodopi farmers’ roadblock closes the Egnatia Odos again

After deciding last Monday, ahead of Christmas, to open their roadblock on the Egnatia Odos at the western Komotini interchange in the direction toward Xanthi, Rodopi farmers returned to the site today and, from 11:00, have once again blocked traffic on that section.

Drivers are therefore diverted to the Komotini exit and continue either via the old national road (through Porto Lagos) or via Iasmos, from whose interchange they can re-enter the Egnatia Odos.

Πηγή: www.news247.gr