Farmers in northern Greece have escalated their protests by deciding to indefinitely block traffic toward Thessaloniki at the Malgara junction, a key transport hub outside the city. The move marks a significant hardening of their stance as demonstrations continue across the country.
The decision comes amid growing anger over deductions farmers discovered in their bank accounts linked to ELGA, Greece’s agricultural insurance organization. Many protesters say the deductions were made even though they have not yet received their basic agricultural subsidies, fueling distrust toward government assurances that the issue was caused by a “technical error” and will be corrected.
At the Malgara blockade, farmers announced that the lane leading to Thessaloniki will remain closed until further notice, starting Thursday. The measure is intended to increase pressure on the government ahead of a nationwide farmers’ meeting scheduled for tomorrow in the city of Serres, which is expected to shape the next phase of mobilizations.
Protests are also intensifying in other parts of the country. In central Greece, farmers at the Nikaia blockade voted unanimously to continue their actions, saying there is no room for dialogue unless the government directly addresses their demands. They argue that recent government announcements about emergency payments and support measures are an attempt to divide the movement rather than resolve its core issues.
Further north, at the Promachonas border crossing, farmers have decided to block truck traffic indefinitely while allowing private vehicles and buses to pass. Organizers say the tactic aims to maintain public access while increasing economic pressure.
In southern Greece, farmers in the Messinia region have remained for a third consecutive day at the Thouria junction, keeping both directions of a major highway closed. Local agricultural groups have also taken legal action over what they describe as a failed pest-control program that they say caused serious damage to this year’s olive harvest, a cornerstone of the regional economy.
Representatives of farming associations from the Peloponnese have also staged a protest at ELGA offices and are expected to attend a regional council meeting, signaling that mobilizations are expanding beyond road blockades.
