Crete, paralyzed by farmers' protests. Thousands of trucks blocked the island. Protesters threw stones at the police
Hundreds of farmers occupied Heraklion Airport on the island of Crete on Monday as part of protests by Greek farmers. Photo: Stefanos Rapanis / AFP / Profimedia
Greek farmers caused the closure of an airport on the island of Crete, blocked roads and border crossings and threw stones at police during national protests on Monday, triggered by delays in payments, Reuters reports, according to News.ro.
Protesters used thousands of trucks and tractors in at least 20 blockade actions organized across the country, according to local media.
Police fired tear gas at a group of protesting farmers who threw stones and forced their way onto the runway at Crete's Heraklion airport, halting air traffic.
Another group near Chania airport in Crete smashed the windows of police vehicles with shepherds' clubs and stones. Police officials said that the people involved have been identified and will be charged.
Greek farmers face a €600 million shortfall in EU aid and other payments after a corruption scandal in which some farmers, aided by state employees, falsified land ownership to qualify for payments. Ongoing audits have slowed subsequent payments.
The funding delays come as farmers and ranchers grapple with an outbreak of sheep pox, which has led to the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats.
“We have no help, climate change has greatly influenced production, all this together with the (corruption, no) scandal – people who have nothing to do with the profession receive enormous sums,” said a farmer, Prokopis Bandzis, who was protesting on the island of Lesbos. “I want justice to be done. Those involved in illegal subsidies must be held accountable (for their actions),” he demanded.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, criticized for the scandal, urged farmers to end the blockades and said the government was open to dialogue.
The government acknowledged payment delays and pledged to distribute 3.7 billion euros to farmers this year.
However, the protests continue. On Monday, in the north, farmers blocked traffic at the Promachonas and Kipi border crossing points with Bulgaria and Turkey, respectively. A customs official at the Kipi checkpoint said only cars and trucks with sensitive goods were allowed through.
Roadblocks were also set up in southwestern and central Greece, where farmers said they planned to block the port of Volos this week. Hundreds of farmers have already blocked the entrance to the port of Mytilene on the island of Lesvos.
