Govt seeks way to break deadlock with farmers

Angry Greek farmers have expanded their protest action against the government’s planned pension and tax reforms by blocking more highways and through the closure of a border crossing to Bulgaria. On its part, the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government is making concerted efforts to keep its composure and is persistently asking for dialogue to open.

Greek Alternate Finance Minister Tryfon Alexiadis told Greek Parliament on Monday that the government is not taxing farmers in an implicit way but using accounting principles with revenue less costs and expenses as well as operational costs, while including their social contributions. He stressed that the government will keep its pledges and change rates from 13% to 16%. Farmers however believe that the action being taken is particularly harmful to productivity bearing in line the high production costs.

At midday today, representatives from the farming sector will respond to the invitation for a meeting that was extended by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. A delegation will be chosen to visit Maximos Mansion, the government’s headquarters, so that they can put forth specific proposals. Farmers want the dialogue to begin from scratch on all issues, including taxation, social security, production costs and the cocktail of measures that zeroes their revenue.