Greek Communists condemn government for "leaving livestock farmers at the mercy of sheep and goat pox"

Image via the KKE

The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) is denouncing the Greek government for "leaving livestock farmers at the mercy of sheep and goat pox for a whole year, with tragic results."

According to the KKE the Greek government in enforcing the EU's Common Agricultural Policy regulations, has already culled 300,000 animals that tested positive for the viruses. At the same time, it rejects vaccination not on scientific grounds, but due to the outward-looking policy of a handful of monopolies that export feta cheese and whose profitability could be affected by possible restrictions on feta exports imposed by other countries due to vaccination.

The KKE notes that this development stems from the EU's "production model," which prioritizes the profitability of capitalists over meeting the needs of the people. Furthermore, the KKE insists on the immediate implementation of measures to fill all vacancies in the permanent staff of state veterinary services and laboratories, remove restrictions and obstacles to the development of a vaccination programme based on scientific criteria without repercussions for livestock farmers and carried out free of charge by state services and to compensate livestock farmers for 100% of the damage and their lost income for as long as they remain without animals.