Greek beekeepers joined Greek farmers in staging their own demonstration in front of Parliament on Feb. 22. Instead of tractors, the 1,000 beekeepers brought their beehives, piling them up in a wall-like formation. According to ELAS, traffic on Amalias Street was interrupted as the protesters occupied a traffic lane.
The president of the Association of Professional Beekeepers of Messinia, Laconia and Arcadia, Giorgos Sentementes, told national broadcaster ERT, that the beekeepers are asking to put a stop to the labeling of imported honey as being Greek, insisting the products be separated. They are also demanding interventions to reduce production costs, tax-free oil, and a modification of the fire ordinance which, according to Sentementes, prohibits the entry of beekeepers into the forests.
