Abandonment of Farmers’ Markets Brought to Parliament by Nikitiadis – Harsh Criticism of ND’s Inaction
PASOK MP for the Dodecanese and Head of the Party’s Development Sector, Giorgos Nikitiadis, brings to Parliament the government’s failings in the operation of farmers’ markets with a formal Question. In his submission, the PASOK MP denounces the inconsistency, indifference, and ongoing contradictions of the New Democracy Government in the crucial area of farmers’ markets, which directly affects producers, merchants, and consumers alike. The Question is addressed to the Minister of Development, Mr. Takis Theodorikakos, and was submitted on Monday, August 4.
Nikitiadis’ Question follows a previous Reference he submitted on July 24, forwarding to the Ministry a letter from the Panhellenic Federation of Agricultural Product Producers’ Associations – Sellers in Farmers’ Markets, highlighting the severe problems and institutional inertia in the sector.
At the same time, the President of the Pan-Attica Federation of Farmers’ Market Sellers (POSPLA), Dimitris Mouliatos, resigned, directly accusing the Minister of Development of indifference and a hostile stance towards sellers. In his resignation letter, Mr. Mouliatos—himself a party member of ND and, as he notes, an ally of the Prime Minister—accuses the Ministry of ignoring producers, neglecting price inflation, and allowing cartel operations to go unchecked.
The political significance of his resignation is immense, as it comes from a member of the ruling party, who condemned the government’s double standards and abandonment of the institution of farmers’ markets—where, as he stressed, “products are sold at 50% lower prices than in supermarkets.”
As Nikitiadis states in his Question, since the passing of Law 4849/2021 by the current Government, not a single call for new producer positions in farmers’ markets has been issued. Meanwhile, price inflation is hitting Greek households hard, purchasing power has collapsed, and Greece ranks among the lowest in the EU alongside Bulgaria.
Nikitiadis slams the Government for failing to conduct proper inspections in supermarkets and for enabling the concentration of market power in the hands of big interests, while choosing to target the very producers who operate without middlemen and offer real value to citizens. He also recalls that this same Government abolished the “no-middlemen” markets in 2021, and now attempts to present itself as a defender of producers—despite having implemented none of its promises, such as launching afternoon farmers’ markets.
The Dodecanese MP from PASOK asks Minister Theodorikakos:
- What exactly does the Government plan to do about producer-only farmers’ markets, under which legal framework, and on what timeline?
- With whom has the Ministry consulted on this matter, and what were the outcomes?
- How does the Minister respond to the accusations of the former POSPLA President regarding indifference and hostility toward the sector?
- When will the Government finally activate Law 4849/2021 to issue the necessary calls for new producer and merchant positions in farmers’ markets, in order to boost competition?
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