Greek farmers protest against tax hikes in bailout deal

Athens, November 18

Thousands of Greek farmers today protested in Athens against tax hikes planned under country’s latest economic bailout.

Police said 4,000 farmers had gathered on the central Syntagma Square. Most were from island of Crete, a main area of Greece’s agricultural production.

The leftist government of PM Alexis Tsipras has committed to additional tax hikes and income cuts in return for a 86-billion-euro bailout agreed in July.

Among them is pledge to scrap measures such as income tax breaks, and cheaper fuel, for farmers.