The wave of discontent in Greece threatens to turn into a tsunami. Farmers and fixed-term contract employees in state administration came on the streets after the drivers’ protests and blockades. And while the Prime Minister George Papandreou is on a visit to New York to convince the international investors that nothing can stop him on his way to revive the Greek economy, protesters blocked the central square in front of the Parliament in the capital for the third day in a row.
"We do not want cash registers,” said producers of fruit and vegetables in Greece. According to them, the government leads a destructive policy against domestic production and agriculture, trying to burden local producers with additional taxes thus making the products unsaleable. "I pay VAT when wholesaling and pay income tax at the end of the year and now they want another 11% above – we will not survive," said a farmer from the Attica region to GRReporter. He explained that the market has shrunk as a whole, and the producers’ costs have increased significantly after the raised taxes and fuel excise duties in the last year. At the same time, a large part of these costs are not deducted in the tax return and remain at the expense of the farmers. The vegetable markets will lose the lead in the race with the super-markets with further increases.
The farmers began their protest in Wednesday morning when representatives of several agricultural unions have opened stalls of fruit and vegetables that they gave the passerby for free. "Here you go, Miss. What can I offer you – juicy peaches, apples, I have tasty tomatoes," they urged the people. "It is for free, Miss. Whatever you like, it is yours!" The stall was on the main shopping street Ermu in front of the Ministry of Finance on Syntagma Square. "We live in difficult times, and the new measures and reforms kill local producers," said the seller, adding that he preferred to give the products for free instead of letting the government take all the profits in the form of taxes. A middle-aged woman with two bags in hand said that she supports the farmers. According to her, vegetable markets offer local products at a better price. She knows the traders and producers on the market in her neighbourhood and is satisfied with the quality of the products.
At the same time, employees on fixed-term contracts at municipal administrations in the country have gathered up the Syntagma Square in front of the Parliament. They chanted "We want work, not charity." Their requests are to be permanently appointeded at the positions they have occupied in the recent years. There are many cases of employees working at a certain position on a fixed-term contract for more than eight years and yet they have not been appointed permanently, so they do not enjoy the benefits of permanent employees.
Angry, but also with a sense of humour, the protesters shouted: "Georgaki, take your bike and go back to America." The slogan was associated with the initiative of the Prime Minister to make special bicycle lanes that encircle the northern suburbs of Athens, known as the wealthiest districts - Ekali (where George Papandreou lives), Kifisya, Eritrea and Kefalari. There is a widespread opinion that the present Prime Minister of Greece has no idea about the real life of the ordinary Greek and the otherwise good initiative for the bicycle lanes could hardly be called a priority in the crisis times of today.
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