Makis Voridis

Greek health authorities were on alert on Thursday after confirming the first African swine fever (ASF) case at a small pig farm in the region of Serres, northeastern Greece.

The Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that the disease was recorded in a family business.

Greek farmers continued with meetings over the weekend as they prepare for protest action later this month which is expected to culminate at Agrotica, the country's largest exhibition of agricultural products.

A contentious project aimed at diverting Greece's second-longest river, the Acheloos, from western Greece to the heavily farmed Plain of Thessaly, will go ahead after all, it was decided on Saturday following a meeting of State Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and the head of Parliament's public administration committee Maximos Harakopoulos.

Changes will be introduced to the legislative framework governing the operation of the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organization (ELGA) to allow private companies access to the sector's insurance system, according to Agriculture and Food Minister Makis Voridis.

Farmers in Larissa, central Greece, are planning to roll out their tractors at the Platykambos junction of the Athens-Thessaloniki national road on Monday in protest at cotton prices, which they complain are too low for them to cover production costs.
The farmers are demanding a meeting with Agriculture and Food Minister Makis Voridis to discuss their grievances.

Agriculture Minister Makis Voridis has rejected allegations of anti-Semitism levelled against him by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS), the umbrella organization of Greek Jews.

Efforts continued on Friday to restore power to all parts of Halkidiki as state officials continued their assessments of a freak storm that killed seven people and injured scores more.  

Israel has reacted to the appointment of New Democracy deputy Makis Voridis in Greece's new cabinet, with an unnamed diplomatic official telling The Jerusalem Post that the country will not cooperate with the new minister for agriculture and food because of his antisemitic past.

The war of words between SYRIZA and New Democracy Vice-President Adonis Georgiadis is heating up with the MP branding the ruling party as communist who have brought disaster to the country.

"The paramount aim is to topple the communists who sold out the country," Georgiadis said in an interview with Star Channel web TV.

The government on Friday effectively rejected a proposal by conservative New Democracy to amend voting laws so that Greeks living overseas can participate in general elections. 

Interior Minister Panos Skourletis submitted an amendment to Parliament calling for a committee to be formed that is to examine the issue within the next six months.