Thousands of farmers flock to the center of Athens: traffic jams and road closures

Thousands farmers from all over the country are heading to Athens on Friday for a large-scale protest action at the Parliament building on Syntagma Square.

According to authorities, columns are arriving in the capital tractors and buses, in connection with which the police introduced temporary traffic restrictions on main highways and in the city center.

Απόβαση αγροτών στην Αθήνα – “Καμία από τις δεσμεύσεις-ψίχουλα του πρωθυπουργού δεν έχει υλοποιηθεί#ingr #news #αγροτες pic.twitter.com/hpzgDbPjjl

— in.gr/news (@in_gr) February 13, 2026

It is expected that about 100 tractors will be parked opposite the Parliament, next to Syntagma Square.

Protester arrival schedule

The first participants in the action began arriving in Athens from 15:00. The official start of the rally is scheduled for 16:00.

The farmers intend to spend the night in the square and leave the city center on Saturday afternoon, February 14, 2026.

Near 130 farmers, livestock breeders and beekeepers from Chania we arrived at the port of Piraeus at 6 o’clock in the morning.

Column routes

The gathering point for participants from central Greece was Afidna in Attica.

Under the escort of traffic police around 40 tractors headed to the city center through Kifissos Avenue and other major thoroughfares.

Some of the protesters arrived in Athens on buses that were parked near the stadium OAKAand some tractors are delivered by truck.

Άρχισε η Απόβαση των αγροτών στο Σύνταγμα.

Μια κίνηση αγωνίας, θυμού και απόγνωσης απέναντι σε μια κυβέρνηση που συνεχίζει να εξευτελίζει τον πρωτογενή τομέα.

Οι αγρότες δεν ζητούν ελεημοσύνη· ζητούν δικαίωση και αξιοπρέπεια.

Αλληλεγγύη στους αγρότες. ✊ pic.twitter.com/1NbDhdfKs0

— john? ntin (@JohnToyp) February 13, 2026

Basic Requirements

The key theme of the protest remains high production costs agricultural products.

Farmers demand:

• guaranteed purchase prices,
• changes in the rules of the insurance fund ELGA,
• payments 100% compensation for damage.

Protesters claim that “none of the Prime Minister’s promises have been fulfilled.”

Context of the conflict

In early January, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and several ministers met with farmers’ representatives after more than 50 days of road blockades and protests.

However, according to farmers, the relevant bills have not yet been submitted to parliament.

Movement restrictions

The police have introduced special traffic control measures, which are applied in stages depending on the situation.

The greatest difficulties are expected:

• on the highways Athens – Corinth and Athens – Lamia,
• on Athenon Avenue,
• at the entrances to the capital.

In the city center, restrictions will affect Stadiou, Panepistimiou, Akademias streets, Amalias Avenue and Vasilissis Sophias Avenue.

Assessment of the situation

Authorities are urging drivers to avoid central Athens and use alternative routes.

Investigations into farmers’ demands and negotiations with the government are ongoing, with the protest seen as one of the largest agrarian mobilizations in recent years.

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