Over 2000 farmers from Crete came out of their tractors this morning at the Pieria port, in order to demonstrate in front of the Ministry of Agricultural Development in the center of Athens. They were “greeted” by the police, including by the Special Forces. The protesters wanted to have available one lane on the road to the center, in order to be able to have their peaceful demonstration. The police refused and offered them to demonstrate in front of the Ministry of they go there walking and not with their tractors.

Last night, the Cretan farmers got on three ferries with their tractors and before that, there was a lot of tension at the port in Iraklio. The Cretan district attorney forbid the farmers to get on the ferries, because their tractors run on diesel and they are allowed to move only within the region, for which they have permission – in this case Crete. After a wild protest from the farmers, the district attorney withdrew his decision, in order to avoid confrontation between police and the farmers. Finally, the farmers got on the ferries with their tractors.

The Cretan farmers are not satisfied with the share they will receive from the 500 million Euros package, which the government is trying to split between the agriculture producers. They were hoping to have a meeting with the Minister of Agricultural Development Sotiris Hadzigakis, who had to urgently leave for Brussels, in order to try and convince the European Commission that the budget aid is not inconsistent with European law.

Right now, the Cretan farmers are determined not to cooperate with the district attorney’s order and are facing the Special Forces, who on their hand are determined not to let the farmers leave Pieria port.