On Friday, we got confirmation of what everyone already knew: the Greek economy is still mired in recession. GDP contracted 0.6% in Q4 after shrinking 1.4% in Q3.
We also found out that Greek farmers have most assuredly not calmed down since they parked their tractors in the middle of the street blocking traffic late last month.
Why are the farmers mad, you ask? Well, they’re not particularly enamored with the idea of having their social security contributions tripled and their income tax doubled as part of PM Alexis Tsipras’ push to satisfy creditors in Brussels who, six months after the country’s third bailout program was agreed, aren’t satisfied with the pace of fiscal consolidation.
So what do you do when you’re an angry farmer from Crete hell bent on demonstrating just how frustrated you are with a government which just a little over a year ago, swept to power with promises to roll back austerity? You grab your shepherd’s crook and some tomatoes and you storm the Agriculture Ministry in Athens.
Below, find the dramatic footage of farmers gone wild.
Outside MinAgric at #farmers protest#Greece #asfalistiko pic.twitter.com/XFxUGHvFKV
— Savvas Karmaniolas (@SavvasKarma) February 12, 2016
MinAgric #Athens #Greece pic.twitter.com/Z1mIS6evI7
— Savvas Karmaniolas (@SavvasKarma) February 12, 2016
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Hell hath no fury like a farmer taxed.
This article appeared at ZeroHedge at: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-02-12/caught-tape-800-angry-farmers-storm-greek-ministry-beat-cops-shepherds-sticks