Bulgarian truckers smash through farmers’ blockade

Four Bulgarian truck drivers smashed through a blockade by Greek farmers protesting pension reforms at the customs check point in Promachonas, on the Greek-Bulgarian border, in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to reports, fed up with long delays due to ongoing action by farmers, four Bulgarian truckers revved up their engines, raced across a distance of some 2 kilometers past cars and other trucks parked on the side of the national highway and plowed through the barriers at the crossing. Bulgarian authorities arrested the drivers. A fifth driver attempting the same tactic was stopped on the Greek side of the border and taken into custody.

Meanwhile, farmers are continuing their action this week, setting up a blockade at Tempe in central Greece from noon on Tuesday.

Several hundred farmers have also vowed to drive their tractors into Athens on Friday to hold a rally in front of Parliament.