A recent national survey conducted between December 4–8 highlights widespread public sympathy for Greek farmers amid ongoing protests, but also reveals a sharp divide over their tactics, including road closures and airport blockades.
The poll, carried out by Interview for the newspaper Political, found that 76% of respondents believe farmers are justified in voicing their grievances. However, public opinion is less unified on the methods used: 53% support the blockades as a form of protest, while 46% oppose them, and 1% were undecided or did not answer.
The survey also addressed public perceptions of a recent scandal involving Greece’s payment agency for farmers, OPEKEPE. Citizens generally do not see it as politically orchestrated for personal gain. Instead, the majority view it as favoritism or clientelism, with 51% citing political patronage benefiting party affiliates, 26% pointing to personal gain by politicians, and 20% blaming opportunistic farmers exploiting the system.
These results illustrate a society torn between sympathy for farmers’ struggles and disagreement with disruptive protest methods, reflecting the broader national debate on balancing civil action and public order.
