Confusion, disagreements and traffic disruption marked Friday’s protest by the farmers’ group Voice of Livestock Farmers, which eventually went ahead with several changes to the original plan.
The farmers had agreed with police to gather at the GSP Stadium at 10:00 before travelling in convoy to the Presidential Palace, where they intended to set out their demands and complaints over the government’s handling of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
According to a police source, the agreement provided for the participation of three pick-up trucks and a limited number of other vehicles. Instead, the farmers arrived with a double-digit number of large lorries carrying hay, prompting a police reaction.
Because the initial arrangement was not observed, police blocked the vehicles from entering the city. The protesters remained stationary at the GSP area for several hours.
Tension at the GSP
Tension was heightened by the high temperatures and by the time pressure created by the Cyprus Cup final between Apollon and Paphos, scheduled for 19:00 at the GSP Stadium. Authorities were aware that the farmers had to leave the area before supporters of the two teams began arriving, amid concerns that the situation could become unmanageable.
A strong police presence remained in place. Police vans and patrol cars were lined up at the GSP, while members of the Mobile Immediate Action Unit were stationed near the Presidential Palace. The police water cannon vehicle was also on standby, though not immediately visible.
Alternative scenarios
During consultations with the authorities, the farmers raised several possible escalation scenarios, including blocking motorways, ports and the Rizoelia roundabout, as well as sending three lorries to the Presidential Palace.
The final option was eventually implemented at around 14:00, after police concluded they could not manage both the protest and the expected arrival of football fans at the GSP at the same time.
Although earlier indications suggested the group would remain at the GSP indefinitely, a convoy was eventually allowed to proceed towards the Presidential Palace.
Outside the Presidential Palace
The protesters arrived outside the Presidential Palace with banners and slogans, where they joined a small number of farmers who had been there since the morning. Strong police forces remained in the area to prevent incidents.
One of the more striking images of the protest was the presence of a donkey named Popi, carrying a banner describing it as “the only survivor from a village of 3,000 sheep”. The animal’s owner said, in a moment of frustration, that the psychological support promised by the state had never been provided.
Inside the Presidential Palace
The farmers had initially requested a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides. However, the President was attending a scheduled engagement.
The gates of the Presidential Palace eventually opened at around 16:00 and a delegation of farmers met Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis and Viktor Papadopoulos.
After the meeting, Neofytos Neofytou, president of Voice of Livestock Farmers, said the delegation had raised issues concerning animal culls, compensation, halloumi and lost income.
New meeting on Tuesday
Neofytou said the delegation had received assurances that a meeting with the President would take place on Tuesday.
“We were given a promise that there will be a meeting with the President on Tuesday. The issue has now reached where it should have been from the start and decisions will be taken on the same day,” he said.
Stella Petrou, a representative of Voice of Livestock Farmers, told Politis that the group could not consider the outcome satisfactory unless the culling of animals was halted.
“If the culls do not stop, we are not satisfied. We are keeping our expectations low ahead of Tuesday’s meeting,” she said.
