Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis accused a radical minority of protesting farmers of using "thuggish behavior" to intimidate colleagues seeking dialogue, escalating the rhetoric in a standoff that has paralyzed national highways.
Speaking in a televised interview as the country heads into a tense new year, Mr. Mitsotakis dismissed the blockades as unrepresentative of the agricultural sector.
He cited data showing that of roughly 400,000 professional farmers in Greece, only about 4,000 tractors are currently mobilized.
“The overwhelming majority are not there,” Mr. Mitsotakis told the Action 24 network. “Many at the blockades want to talk to us, but some intimidate them so the front doesn’t break. Solutions come only through dialogue.”
The protests, driven by rising production costs and cuts to EU subsidies, have caused severe traffic delays, drawing ire from motorists.
Mr. Mitsotakis rejected union claims that police were responsible for closing roads, warning that "the more citizens suffer, the more farmers lose the moral high ground."
Beyond the agricultural crisis, the prime minister addressed geopolitical anxieties for 2026, defending increased defense spending as a necessary investment in national security.
“No third party can guarantee our safety. We must be strong enough ourselves,” Mr. Mitsotakis said.
While ruling out an imminent Cabinet reshuffle, he confirmed his intention to seek a third term in the 2027 elections.
On the economy, Mr. Mitsotakis pledged further support for households struggling with inflation but ruled out fiscal slippage.
“We give what we can because the economy is growing,” he said. “But needs are endless and resources are not. We will not jeopardize fiscal discipline.”