Greek officials prepare to confront farmers after failed talks, with blockades set to intensify over subsidy delays and financial pressures.
ATHENS: Greek officials are preparing for a direct confrontation with protesting farmers who have blockaded motorways for weeks.
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said authorities would “not allow the country to be cut in two”.
He told Mega TV there was no room for additional measures for the farmers.
The farmers have rejected government proposals including cheaper electricity and fuel.
They plan to step up their roadblocks over a two-day period.
The protest began in late November and has seen several motorways and border crossings intermittently blocked by thousands of tractors.
Blockades were eased during the Christmas holidays to allow travel.
Farmers are outraged over long delays in subsidy payments triggered by a scandal involving embezzled EU agriculture aid.
They also face pressure from low prices, rising energy costs and worsening climate conditions.
Further frustration stems from the culling of over 450,000 sheep and goats due to a pox epidemic.
Farmers last month rejected an invitation to talks from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
They have also ignored repeated government warnings to back down.
Officials have accused opposition parties of encouraging the farmers to reject talks.
Scheduled payments have been delayed by an ongoing investigation into fraudulent EU subsidy claims worth millions of euros.
The scandal was revealed in May by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
