Greek farmers manned tractor barricades Wednesday as they awaited a government aid package that will determine whether they launch a nationwide 48-hour highway shutdown.
Tensions are peaking ahead of the announcement, expected later in the day.
Government officials said they would proceed with the measures “whether farmers come to dialogue or not,” signaling that patience with the days-long disruptions is running thin.
“If the announcements meet our basic demands, we are ready to sit down for dialogue and reassess our stance,” union representatives said in a statement.
“If not, we will move to further escalation.”
The protesters are demanding concrete relief for soaring energy costs and guaranteed timelines for financial support payments to offset collapsing incomes.
General assemblies are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at protest hubs in Nikaia and along the E65 highway to vote on the government's offer.
If the proposal is rejected, farmers at the strategic Malgara toll station have vowed to block the Athens-Thessaloniki highway in both directions starting Thursday.
The standoff has already caused chaos for travelers returning from the holidays.
On Tuesday, the national highway near Kastro was closed in both directions, while single-lane restrictions elsewhere created kilometers-long queues.
The dispute underscores the mounting pressure on the government to address rural economic hardship without derailing the national budget.