A protesting farmer smokes his cigarette atop his tractor at Girtoni road junction near Larissa city, central Greece, January 20, 2016. (AP Photo)
Athens:
Greek farmers and sailors today kicked off a wave of protests against a disputed pension reform planned by the embattled government of leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Sailors launched a two-day strike while farmers are massing their tractors alongside national highways, threatening a blockade.
In the northern town of Komotini, riot police fired tear gas at farmers trying to storm a regional briefing attended by Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou.
"We want to go in to talk to this fool," a protester was shown on local television telling police, before the clash broke out.
Lawyers, engineers and rail workers are also striking against the reform that aims to reduce spending on pensions which is the highest in the European Union.
And Greek unions have announced a general strike -- the third in as many months -- on February 4 over the reforms.
Tsipras' government has announced plans to lower the maximum pension to 2,300 euros ($2,500) from 2,700 euros currently, and introduce a new minimum guaranteed basic pension of 384 euros.
It also wants to increase social security contributions by both employers and staff.
Tsipras next month hopes to push the reform through parliament, where his government has a narrow majority of 153 out of 300 lawmakers.
Greece must save 1.8 billion euros from state spending on pensions under a three-year bailout signed with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF in July.
Farmers are also angry as the government plans to scrap benefits such as income tax breaks and cheaper fuel.
In addition, the income tax rate for farmers is to progressively double to 26 percent from 13 percent currently.
Sailors launched a two-day strike while farmers are massing their tractors alongside national highways, threatening a blockade.
In the northern town of Komotini, riot police fired tear gas at farmers trying to storm a regional briefing attended by Agriculture Minister Vangelis Apostolou.
"We want to go in to talk to this fool," a protester was shown on local television telling police, before the clash broke out.
Lawyers, engineers and rail workers are also striking against the reform that aims to reduce spending on pensions which is the highest in the European Union.
And Greek unions have announced a general strike -- the third in as many months -- on February 4 over the reforms.
Tsipras' government has announced plans to lower the maximum pension to 2,300 euros ($2,500) from 2,700 euros currently, and introduce a new minimum guaranteed basic pension of 384 euros.
It also wants to increase social security contributions by both employers and staff.
Tsipras next month hopes to push the reform through parliament, where his government has a narrow majority of 153 out of 300 lawmakers.
Greece must save 1.8 billion euros from state spending on pensions under a three-year bailout signed with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the IMF in July.
Farmers are also angry as the government plans to scrap benefits such as income tax breaks and cheaper fuel.
In addition, the income tax rate for farmers is to progressively double to 26 percent from 13 percent currently.
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