After three weeks of continuous demonstrations, farmers and livestock breeders in northern Greece have partially reopened the Thessaloniki-Athens National Highway at Malgara, allowing smoother vehicle traffic for the Christmas holidays. The tractors and agricultural vehicles remain positioned along the roadside, with the protest continuing despite the temporary easing.
Officials from the Fire Service and the Egnatia Odos authority were on-site to clear the road, and the Thessaloniki Traffic Police oversaw the operation. Two lanes toward Athens were reopened, with vehicles now passing normally, while traffic toward Thessaloniki had been partially cleared in recent days.
Sokratis Aleiftiras, a spokesperson for Larissa farmers, emphasized that while one lane has always been open for emergency vehicles, the blockades themselves will not be dismantled. “We are coordinating nationwide to maintain the blockades, and the tents and makeshift structures will remain. We are doing what we can to facilitate public traffic, but safety remains a priority,” he said.
The farmers’ demands remain largely unresolved, with 20 of their 26 requests reportedly unaddressed by the government. They stress that the blockades are a form of protest, not intended to unduly inconvenience travelers.
Other protest points remain active, including Derveni, Chalkidona, and Sithonia, where beekeepers and farmers continue to maintain their positions. Symbolic gestures, like a decorated Christmas tree amid the tractors at Thebes, underscore the farmers’ determination to remain in place throughout the holiday season.
