February 9, 2026

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Split in ND: two ex-prime ministers "they beat" according to Mitsotakis for OΠΕΚΕΠΕ, subsidies and confrontation with the peasants


Two former Prime Ministers of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis And Antonis Samarassynchronously and without diplomatic curtsies criticized agricultural policy Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

That, what was previously discussed in whispersnow spoken out loud: farmers are rioting, Greek roads are blocked by tractors, and responsibility for the gap between the government and the agricultural sector lies on current policies, not on “external factors”.

Both ex-prime ministers of New Democracy pointed out systemic failures in matters of subsidies and the work of the agricultural platform OPECPEPE, total corruption and mass death of livestock, which leading peasants to extinction. And they said it as straightforwardly as possible.

Kostas Karamanlisspeaking at an event in Xanthi, emphasized: “We must be especially attentive to farmers and livestock breeders. Listen to their voice and understand their concerns” He listed a full range of crises: rising production costs, falling prices for producers, excessive prices for consumers, climate disasters, epidemics, drought, as well as eternal delays in compensation.

According to him, the problems have become so deep that there is a real threat to the survival of a significant part of the agricultural sector. Karamanlis also criticized the current European agricultural policy, which “lost touch with reality and became a technocratic experiment at the expense of manufacturers” He separately noted the absurdity of initiatives, such as the planned increase in taxes on tobacco products, which will only strengthen the illegal market and reduce budget revenues.

The former prime minister also drew attention to a key problem – the rapid devastation of rural areas: an aging population, a lack of young workers, the closure of schools, bank branches, and police post offices. “This is not just a demographic crisis, it is a threat to national security“, he emphasized, recalling that border regions are vital for the country.

Antonis Samaras acted even harsher. He stated: “The government must realize that not everything comes down to PR and image. There are also people who live outside their offices.” He accused the authorities of making farmers despair not only because of scandals and delays in payments, but above all because losing the future for their families.

Samaras addedWhat bureaucracy of the “centralized state” is stifling production, and Brussels’ demands are only increasing the pressure. He emphasized that protests are sweeping across Europeand the Greek government should have protected its farmers, not made the situation worse.

In conclusion, he warned: “This misguided policy will hit everyone – rising prices, further instability and the disappearance of our producers” And he summed it up: “There is no country without farmers. If a village dies out, Greece becomes vulnerable



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