Farmers clash with riot police in Thessaloniki

Clashes have erupted between farmers and riot police in northern Greece during a massive protest gathering over the government’s planned pension reforms.

Around 5,000 angry farmers from across Greece gathered outside the venue of the annual Agrotica farming exhibition in the northern city of Thessaloniki on Thursday to protest the controversial planned pension reforms.

Violent clashes erupted when a number of protesters attempted to enter a conference hall where Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou was due to inaugurate the fair.

Protesters also blocked several key roads with their tractors.Security forces fired tear gas to disperse the protesting farmers.

Apostolou, the agriculture minister, cancelled his visit amid the scuffles.

Pension cuts proposed by the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras have angered people from various sectors, including farmers. The planned reforms would cut retiree benefits and increase pension contributions and income tax rates for farmers in particular.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour strike by journalists –  also angry over the proposed cuts – has put a halt to news programs, website updates and newspaper publications in the country. The protest action came on Friday, when no newspapers will be printed in Greece as a result.

Protests have also spread to seamen, who kept their vessels tied up in ports for a second day, while notary publics also walked off their jobs.

Over the past weeks, Greek pensioners have staged massive rallies in the capital, Athens, against the government’s plan to overhaul the country’s pension system.

Unions also plan to hold a nationwide strike over the issue on February 4.

The pension reforms are required under an economic bailout program provided by international lenders, who apparently remain Greece’s only chance amid an acute economic meltdown.

Greece’s international creditors are the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. They have already granted Greece two bailout loans – one in 2010 and the other in 2012 – worth a total of 240 billion euros (272 billion dollars) following the economic crisis in the country that started back in 2009.

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