Livestock farmers will return to the Presidential Palace on Tuesday for a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, following talks held on Friday with Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki after a protest outside the Palace.
Livestock farmers said the upcoming meeting with the President would be different from previous discussions, insisting that all key issues affecting the sector would be put on the table, including compensation, halloumi production and other longstanding demands.
“One way or another, decisions will be taken,” one representative told local television channels following the meeting with Piki and Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis.
Day marred by tension
Livestock farmers had earlier gathered outside the Presidential Palace, where they continued their protest after tension and delays at the GSP stadium area.
Although it had initially been decided that they would remain at GSP, the plan changed and the protest unfolded outside the Presidential Palace. The change may also be linked to the cup final scheduled to take place at GSP later in the day.
The march had been scheduled to begin at 10:00 and reach the Presidential Palace at around 11:00, but it was delayed after police did not allow lorries to proceed.
The protest outside the Presidential Palace took place peacefully, with farmers holding banners and chanting slogans. A strong police presence remains in the area, including anti-riot units, with officers on site to monitor the situation and maintain order.
One striking image from the protest is the presence of a donkey named Popi, carrying a banner describing it as the only survivor from a site that had 3,000 sheep.
Some protesters turned their criticism towards veterinarians, saying they “hide behind a sheet of paper”, while others described the situation facing livestock farmers as a “third Attila”, in reference to Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus.
The livestock farmers are protesting over problems facing the sector, amid continuing anger over the handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and its impact on farmers.
Inside the Presidential Palace, a delegation of livestock farmers is expected to meet Irene Piki, Deputy Minister to the President, after the gates were opened to allow the meeting to take place.
Their initial request had been for a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides, but that request does not appear set to be granted.
