The debate surrounding agricultural issues is taking on new political significance, as former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras intervenes publicly with a post sharply criticizing the government for its handling of agricultural protests and the escalating discontent in the primary sector.
Mr. Samaras stresses that «the government must understand that it is not all about communication — there is also society,» emphasizing that farmers are not only protesting against delays and scandals, but primarily against «the uncertain future of their production» and the future of their children. In his speech, he criticizes the «unbearable bureaucracy» of both the Greek «so-called executive state» and Brussels, linking the Greek reality with the wave of unprecedented agricultural protests sweeping many European countries.
This appointment comes at a time when the credibility of agricultural policy institutions has been shaken by the OPEC scandal, which revealed mismanagement of European funds and called into question the effectiveness of control mechanisms. This climate has reinforced producers' mistrust and the feeling that decisions are being taken without taking into account the real needs of the countryside.
The former prime minister accuses the government of not only failing to prevent the crisis but also «making things worse» by turning social groups against each other. As he notes, this policy «will be paid for by the entire Greek people, among other things with new waves of austerity.».
With mass protests across Europe, the debate over the future of subsidies, and mounting pressure on commodity prices as common denominators, Mr. Samaras concludes that without farmers «there is no country,» warning that the deserted countryside makes Greece «even more vulnerable.» The solution, according to him, lies in restructuring production — not in «eliminating producers.».
Samaras' intervention is part of a broader wave of reactions that are shaping a new political landscape, while the OPECEPE case and its repercussions continue to exert pressure at the institutional and social levels. Amid discontent in the agricultural world, the issue is becoming one of the central themes of public debate.
