Protesting Farmers Plan to Blockade Bulgaria-Greece Border

Greek farmers are planning to blockade teh border with Bulgaria as a protest against the government's austerity measures. Photo by Darik News

A new series of strikes by doctors, pharmacists, transport employees and farmers is starting Monday in Greece against the austerity measures in the country.

Farmers are preparing to blockade the Greek-Bulgarian border and demand state subsidy. However, the Greek cabinet has announced that farmers will not receive additional subsidies.

Two years ago, the result after a similar strike was EUR 500 M that was given to them. However, the Greek government changed, and the country escaped bankruptcy by receiving loans from the International Monetary Fund and the European Union.

Doctors, working for the largest state fund for medical insurance in Greece, IKA, have been protesting for a week and do not plan to accept patients until February 11 at least.

The Greek government is planning to start handing out special coupons to patients to enable them to be checked by other doctors who have contracts with the cabinet.

Pharmacists have suspended working almost completely in the last two weeks and intend to continue their strike until Wednesday at least.

They are protesting against the plans to abolish limitations that protect them from competition and increase prices of medicines.

The transport in Athens has been striking for three months already. On Monday, public transport will stop operating for 4-5 hours because of salary cap and cuts in allocations.

 

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