Tensions are mounting in Greece as planned talks between farmers and the government face uncertainty over the composition of the meeting with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday at the Maximos Mansion, could be canceled due to disputes over participant numbers.
The government has proposed holding two separate sessions with representatives from the agricultural sector to ensure broader participation, rejecting farmers’ ultimatums. Spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis emphasized the need for timely submission of attendees’ names for security reasons, while calling for a constructive dialogue rather than political posturing.
Farmers are demanding that 25 regional representatives, plus 10 from fisheries, be included, while the government has capped each session at 20 participants. Lukas Voulgaris, a farmers’ spokesperson, stated that their delegates will not attend if the government does not meet their request, accusing officials of trying to create internal divisions.
Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis defended the government’s approach, noting that accepting two separate meetings was meant to facilitate dialogue and urging farmers to avoid additional procedural demands. Meanwhile, Ministers and officials, including Adonis Georgiadis, stressed that ongoing blockades disrupt society and the economy, emphasizing that protests cannot infringe on others’ rights.
