Government in Panic – Farmers in Revolt: Clashes, Political Damage and the Risk of Christmas Chaos

Yesterday’s violent incidents in Thessaly shocked not only the police but also the Maximos Mansion, which now sees the farmers’ crisis spiraling into an uncontrollable political wildfire.Government insiders say that images of injured demonstrators “hit like a bolt of lightning” at a moment when the administration desperately wanted calm ahead of the holidays and mounting social pressures.

Officials insist that “a lot of money” has already been poured into the primary sector. But for the farmers, the message is crystal clear: “We’ve reached our limits.” And they are showing it.

Maximos Fears the Domino Effect: “Let’s hope no new fronts open up”

Government sources admit the situation is “the last thing the government needed right now.”The fear is not just the optics of police violence — it is something far more dangerous: the sudden spread of roadblocks to regions that until yesterday were not involved.

“If the roads close during Christmas, we’re talking about a political collision of enormous cost,” one government official warns.

The national highway to Thessaloniki was already shut down, with cars being redirected through secondary routes.

Farmers: “You paid us last year’s money and expect us to be grateful?”

Farmers are furious.The payments issued by OPEKEPE are dismissed as “2024 money,” not real support, with many producers complaining about “sloppiness, exclusions, and last-minute unfair inspections.”

The roughly 350,000 beneficiaries — who received around €1,000 each — consider the amount insufficient even for basic survival. “It’s not compensation, it’s a reminder that we don’t matter,” a producers’ representative says bitterly.

Decision to Escalate: Roadblocks Everywhere — For as Long as It Takes

Local assemblies describe the situation as “war-like.”Roadblocks are expected across the country, including at key transport hubs, with farmers declaring:

“We’re not backing down. No more promises, no more pre-election tricks.”

Such developments would turn the holiday market into a nightmare for traders, transport companies, and the thousands of families planning to travel.

The Demands Fueling the Uprising

Farmers are calling for:

• Immediate payment of all delayed subsidies
• Minimum guaranteed prices for products
• Containment of production costs
• Tax-free agricultural diesel at the pump and a cap on electricity
• Vaccination against sheep and goat pox and full compensations

Many of these demands have been known to the government for months, which only intensifies the frustration.

Government Counter-Move: Promising a “Second Installment” — But Later

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Agriculture Minister Kostas Tsiaras have tried to calm tensions, leaving the door open for additional support.

But leaked information is not helping: any extra aid is expected sometime next year, with no clarity on the amount.

Meanwhile, the fire is already spreading.

Minister Tsiaras announced an appeals process for farmers who feel wronged, but they respond that “there is no time for bureaucracy when production is collapsing.”

Political Undercurrents: The Damage the Government Fears

In political circles, advisers close to the PM wonder whether the government underestimated:

• the accumulated pressure on the agricultural sector,
• the force of a winter uprising, and
• the severe communication damage from images of tear gas and angry farmers.

The political cost is now considered measurable.

A senior official, speaking anonymously, remarks bitterly: “We didn’t lose the farmers today. We’ve been losing them for months. Today we just saw it on camera.”

 A Clash Poised to Snowball

The government–farmers crisis is no longer merely social. It is political, economic, and deeply symbolic.

Without immediate de-escalation, the country risks:

• roadblocks during Christmas,
• prolonged shortages in the market,
• and one of the most serious political hits of recent years.

The game has only just begun — and it already looks dangerously difficult for the government.

Source: pagenews.gr