KKE delegation, consisting of Thanasis Hasta Secretary of the Committee of the Region of Western Macedonia and George Stravou member of the Office of the Committee of the Region of Western Macedonia met with the President of the Federation of Popular Markets of Western Macedonia George Agrafiotis, the president of the public markets association of the prefecture of Kozani Lazaro Christopoulos and the president of the association of lake fishing producers of Polyphytos, Kozani prefecture Nikos Kourtidis.
The KKE delegation was informed by the representatives of the popular markets about the situation prevailing in the market. Especially for the exacerbation of the problems they face in the last year with the pandemic and the continuous lockdowns that take place in Kozani.
In a very good atmosphere of discussion, the representatives of the popular markets referred to the acute problems that concern them and which are:
Financial catastrophe for the producers of products and traders who with the continuous lockdown and the closing of the popular markets remain unsold.
The financial compensation given to them by the state is minimal for a few, up at all for most.
At a time when the situation with the pandemic is very difficult for them, A law on public markets is being prepared by the government (will be consulted as he says), which seems to be valid if the entry of business groups into them, for small producers and traders in the popular markets will mean a gravestone and will lead to despair and closure.
The producer fishermen of Lake Polyphytos, expressed great concern over the possibility of building photovoltaics in the lake, which would mean disaster for the environment and economic disaster for themselves.
The same applies to the construction of the Asbestos Landfill that the government plans to build in the former MAVE, polluting the aquifers of Lake Polyphytos.
The KKE delegation stressed that the struggle of producers in the popular markets should intensify, together with professionals, the self-employed and other employees, against the politics that crushes them, which by exploiting their pandemic leads faster to destruction.
This struggle must be directed against EU policy and all the political forces that serve it., because that is what strengthens the big monopoly groups, displacing small producers, small businesses and the self-employed.
KKE opposes government's approach to new law on public markets. He stands by the side of the professionals. The institution of popular markets, with whatever social characteristics they maintain so far in their operation, is a real way out for the food of the popular households that today see their incomes cut by the anti-popular policies implemented.
Regarding the law on public markets, it was stressed that vigilance is needed. Organized struggle and collective struggle are the only way to remove obstacles to the dissolution of the institution of popular markets.
The two delegations expressed the need to meet again and discuss in view of the consultation of the law on the public markets prepared by the government..
Kozani 18/4/2021
