Farmers and police clashed in Athens on Wednesday, as protests against tax hikes and austerity measures turned ugly. Farmers had previously benefited from subsidies and tax breaks, but, though the Syriza government promised an end to austerity, further swingeing cuts have been proposed under a new bail-out agreement, and financial support for farmers is now under threat.


Farmers gathered in Syntagma Square in central Athens at 11am to demonstrate against tax increases, pension reforms and the demands of Greece’s international creditors.

Police fired tear gas and farmers threw fruit and flags at police lines after scuffles broke out in the Greek capital. At least 4,000 farmers attended the protest, and though there were disturbances, authorities said no arrests had been made and no injuries reported.

Reform of the agricultural sector’s tax situation is one of the demands of Greece’s lenders in the EU and International Monetary Fund; these lenders are demanding an agricultural development plan from the Greek government by the end of the year.