Greek farmers rev up tractors for tax protests

One of the country’s main farming unions, the Panhellenic Farmers’ Initiative, said on Wednesday that its members will launch protests in the coming days against the government’s taxation plans.

The announcement was made after union leaders met with Agricultural Development Minister Vangelis Apostolou.

Another union, the Panhellenic Coordinating Committee for Farmers and Livestock Breeders, said it would wait until the government has finalized its plans before deciding what action to take.

The head of the Panhellenic Farmers’ Initiative, Theodoros Papaconstantinou, said that members would take their tractors out onto the road to protest planned tax increases for the agricultural sector.

“The government is sticking to the plan it agreed with the lenders, which has no growth potential for farmers,” said the head of the group, which represents 63 farming associations.