Friday 22.11.2024 ΚΕΡΚΥΡΑ

Atmosphere of mourning at today΄s farmers΄ protest due to passing of Federation President

protest
13 Feb 2024 / 12:38

CORFU. The protest motorcade set off from the airport and ended at the Eptanissou junction.

The farmers' protest took place today in an atmosphere of mourning due to the loss of the president of the Federation of Corfu Agricultural Associations (OASK), Vassilis Armeniakos.

Against the backdrop of today's meeting at 12 p.m. between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the farmers at the Maximos Mansion, the Federation of Corfu Agricultural Associations (OASK), with the participation of the Workers Centre, staged a new protest as part of the nationwide farmers protests.

The motorcade started from Corfu Airport, then proceeded along the Garitsa shore road, onto Alexandras Avenue, and to San Rocco Square, concluding at the Eptanissou junction.

National meeting

The protest takes place following the participation of representatives from OASK in the national coordination meeting of blockades, which took place in Nikaia, Larissa, on Tuesday, February 6th. In this meeting, attended by dozens of blockades, agricultural associations, and federations, a unanimous decision was made to continue and escalate the protests with diverse actions in cities, road closures, and participation in the demonstration in Athens.

The demands are for the reduction of production costs by introducing tax-free fuel (similar to shipowners), a ceiling of 7 cents per kilowatt-hour for agricultural and livestock electricity, subsidies for agricultural supplies, feeds, compensation for lost income for all products affected by natural disasters and diseases, with 100% reimbursement of damages, prices that reflect production costs while ensuring survival income and affordable prices for popular consumer products, while additionally requesting that the new CAP not be implemented.

On the local level

In addition to the farmers' general demands, OASK at the local level advocates for the return of the OPEKEPE office to Corfu, proper tree pruning by the Ionian Islands Regional Authority at the state's expense, and the enhancement of infrastructure with a focus on rural roads to ensure access to fields for cultivation.

These issues have already been communicated to the Regional Authority during a meeting between representatives of OASK and Deputy Regional Governors Christos Anthis and Alexandros Dimos, last week, on the sidelines of the protest held on February 5th in front of the former prefecture building. However, OASK's protests will continue with the next milestone being the upcoming demonstration in Athens.