site.btaGreek Farmers Step Up Blockades Again, Signs of Division Emerge over Talks

Protesting Greek farmers have once again stepped up their road blockades, Greece's public broadcaster ERT reported.

Thousands of travellers faced heavy traffic and significant delays after the Christmas holidays, despite traffic-easing measures taken by farmers at most blockade points. The longest delays were recorded on the Athens-Thessaloniki route, where in some cases drivers took 10-12 hours to complete a journey that normally takes around five hours, ERT said.

The public broadcaster reported that the protests are set to continue. At the Malgara toll station south of Thessaloniki, both carriageways were opened to traffic on Sunday. Both lanes are due to be closed again Monday noon.

According to ERT, the number of farmers' blockades nationwide has reached 57. The possibility of holding a national meeting on Saturday is being considered. It could take place either in Malgara, near Thessaloniki, or in Nikaia, in the Thessaly region.

According to the online edition of Kathimerini, farmers are beginning to appear increasingly divided in their positions, with some determined to continue the road blockades, while others have expressed readiness to enter into negotiations with government representatives.

The protests by Greek farmers began in late November over delays in the payment of agricultural subsidies, following a corruption scandal at Greece's agricultural payments agency, OPEKEPE.