Greek farmers protesting over planned tax and pension reforms demanded by the country’s bailout creditors have clashed outside Parliament with police, who used tear gas to disperse them.
Around 12000 farmers from various parts of Greece took part in Wednesday’s protest in central Athens. 2700 farmers travelled to Athens from Crete to take part in the protest. 500 from Chania and Rethymnon 1700 from Heraklion and 500 from Lasithi
A farmer’s deputation tried to enter parliament as visitors to hand in a petition but according to a farmers union official “police reacted with chemical sprays. It is shameful”. “They now say that they [minister for agriculture] are willing to talk” the Union officer said, “but we cant disuss or hand over the petition while they spray us with chemicals”. Clashes broke out when some of the protesters threw bitter oranges that grow on trees around parliament at riot police guarding the building.
A 25 yearold man from Lasithi who was arrested, was later released without charges.
Greece’s left-led government has committed to extensive new reforms and spending cuts and tax increases under the third in a series of multi-billion euro bailouts that have kept the country afloat since 2010.
Farmers are angry at plans to substantially increase their income tax and ask for payments in advance, abolish existing tax concessions on fuel and cut their pensions.
Cretan farmers returned to the island and are expected to take decisions for their future course of action in the next few days.
