Livestock farmers are marching on the Presidential Palace today despite behind-the-scenes efforts to call off the protest, as foot-and-mouth disease continues to spread across the island’s farming sector.
The group “Voice of the Livestock Farmers” said it would not back down, arguing that time was running out. Protesters are gathering at GSP Stadium at around 10:00am before marching to the Presidential Palace, where they are expected to arrive at around 11:00am. Their central demand is an immediate halt to the culling of animals at infected units.
The protest comes as President Nikos Christodoulides convened an emergency meeting on Thursday with senior associates, the Agriculture Ministry directorate, Veterinary Services and Stavros Malas. Those present unanimously agreed to accept a joint request from farming organisations for an urgent meeting, to be held on Tuesday.
According to the government’s schedule for Tuesday, Christodoulides will first meet the Scientific Advisory Committee (epidemiological team) at 9:30am to assess the spread of the disease, review existing biosecurity measures and determine next scientific steps. At 11:00am he will receive the leaderships of farming organisations — PEK, EKA, Panagrотikos, the New Farmers Movement and Euroagrotikos — alongside representatives of affected livestock sectors, including sheep and goat farmers, cattle farmers and pig farmers.
Speaking on Thursday, Christodoulides sought to reassure on the international and European dimensions of the crisis, saying “all those who need to be informed have been informed.”
The farming organisations had written to the presidency warning of the disease’s spread and calling for political intervention on issues beyond the technical remit of the Veterinary Services, including the economic survival of the sector. The outbreak has so far affected 120 livestock units.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou told philenews that the Voice of the Livestock Farmers had been contacted and invited to Tuesday’s meeting. “Contact was made with them to attend and for dialogue to take place, but they themselves chose to go ahead with the protest,” she said.
Cyprus Police said they were on full alert, with significant forces deployed to maintain public order, manage traffic disruption along the march route and ensure the protest passed off peacefully.
Police reminded organisers of their obligations under the Public Gatherings and Processions Law of 2025 to cooperate closely with the designated liaison officer.