Greece is facing widespread travel disruption as farmers prepare to intensify road blockades across the country during the final days of the year, a move that organizers say is aimed at increasing pressure on the government to meet their demands. While most farmers remain committed to roadblocks, some groups have expressed willingness to engage in dialogue with the government.
Farmers from the central Thessaly region are expected to arrive with their tractors in the city of Larissa on Monday, December 29, marking a new phase of coordinated protests. Union representatives say most participants support escalating action, including shutting down major highways that connect northern and southern Greece, as well as smaller service roads.
In Malgara, farmers plan to close the route toward Athens from noon on Monday for 24 hours, reopening it the following day to ease New Year’s traffic. In Larissa, tractors from across Thessaly are expected to arrive, with most farmers supporting a further escalation of roadblocks.
The protest strategy includes not only national roads but also secondary routes, and some groups are even considering blocking customs checkpoints. In Nikaia, a three-hour closure of side roads is planned, while in Malgara major arteries will remain closed until Tuesday.
At several protest points, farmers plan to fully block both main and secondary routes for hours at a time. In some areas, toll barriers are being lifted to allow drivers to pass without paying, while in others protesters are attempting to block customs checkpoints.
The impact on travel has been immediate, with motorists reporting long delays and traffic moving at extremely low speeds. Some drivers said they were stranded for hours on side roads, while others described intermittent openings that briefly eased congestion. Long queues formed at critical points such as Kastro and Martino, with police reporting severe congestion, particularly in the Boeotia region.
Cracks in the Protests
Protest leaders argue that these simultaneous actions are necessary to intensify pressure on the government, which they say has yet to adequately address key agricultural demands. After Monday’s demonstrations, farmers are expected to head into city centers to explain their position directly to the public.
However, cracks have emerged within the movement. Reports that several farmer groups across the country favor dialogue rather than continued escalation have sparked strong reactions from protest leaders in Thessaly, who accuse others of undermining the collective effort. Rival groups insist they are not formally represented in national coordination bodies, fueling a debate over who legitimately speaks for the farmers.
The divisions became evident after a recent meeting in Epanomi, Thessaloniki, where 18 farmer groups called for negotiations but maintained their protest presence. Other blocks, including from Evros, Kilkis, Drama, Chalkidona, and Niseli Imathias, raised concerns over timing and conditions for dialogue.
The next nationwide farmers’ meeting is scheduled for shortly after New Year’s, likely on Saturday, January 3, in Malgara.