New Farmer Protests: Heraklion Airport to Be Blocked Indefinitely from 8/12

New waves of farmer protests are sweeping across Greece, from Thrace to Crete, as producers reinforce existing blockades and prepare new ones at ports and airports. In Crete, farmers and livestock breeders announced an indefinite blockade of Heraklion Airport starting Monday, December 8, 2025, gathering at 09:00 in Pachia Ammos before marching to the airport.

The Prime Minister, speaking in Markopoulo, stressed that dialogue is possible “with specific demands”, while the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiaras, confirmed that his office remains open for discussions. Meanwhile, Maximos Charakopoulos appealed to farmers not to lose the legitimacy of their cause with extreme actions.

Core Demands of Farmers

• Immediate payment of subsidies and compensations
• Introduction of minimum guaranteed prices reflecting real production costs
• Reduction of production costs, including tax-free fuel and a 7 cents/kWh ceiling for agricultural electricity
• Full insurance coverage by ELGA for all risks to crops and capital
• No transfer of OPEKEPE to AADE

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Main Blockade Areas

• Nikaia, Larissa: ~4,000 tractors continue blocking the Athens–Thessaloniki National Road
• Thessaly: planned blockade of Volos port and bypass roads
• Phthiotis & Attica: Athens–Lamia National Road at Bralos, old Athens–Lamia Road, and E65
• Northern Greece: checkpoints at Kipoi, Exochi, Promachonas, Evzones, Niki, Kalpaki Ioannina, and Lagadas
• Lesvos: blockade of Mytilene port and motorized march toward the city
• Igoumenitsa: farmers’ gathering scheduled for Thursday, 11/12, at the stadium, followed by a march to the port

Political-Strategic Reading

The escalation highlights the tension between the government and the agricultural sector, underscoring farmers’ demands for clear commitments to safeguard the sustainability of primary production. Their strategy appears aimed at economic pressure and political visibility, while the government seeks to balance dialogue with maintaining traffic regulations.

In the coming days, the trajectory of these protests will likely impact transportation, tourism, and supply chains, with the nationwide blockades remaining active and highly organized.