Farmers launch protests, block roads in opposition to planned pension reforms

Farmers throughout Greece on Friday launched protest actions and tractor rallies to show their opposition to proposed pension reforms that would increase the amounts they pay in social insurance contributions, as well as the high cost of taxation.

More than 500 tractors gathered at the Lefkonas junction in Serres, in northeastern Greece, and in statements to the ANA-MPA said their next stop will be the Promahonas border crossing with Bulgaria, though their aim was not to close the border. A second tractor road block is expected to be formed at the Kerdyllia junction on the Egnatia highway.

Some 200 farmers with 80 tractors in Argolida closed the road from Argos to Nafplio for a few hours, opening it again on Friday afternoon.

Farmers in Larisa intend to launch protests in the coming week, while farmers in Veria held a protest outside the OGA farmers’ social insurance fund and ELGA farmer compensation offices in Veria.