Nicosia faced big problems on Thursday, December 18th. Teachers stopped working for two hours. Farmers also blocked roads with their tractors. These actions were a challenge to the government's new plans. The protests were expected to cause trouble for people in the city. This affected school mornings and made traffic worse.
Teachers are angry about a new bill about how they are evaluated. They think this law could lead to unfair treatment. It could also hurt their independence. The teachers' strike lasted from 7:30 a.m. to about 9:00 a.m. They wanted to show they strongly disagree. This protest is important because Cyprus could lose €60 million from the EU. This money depends on some reforms.
At the same time, many farmers came to Nicosia. They are unhappy with current EU farming rules. They say these rules are too strict. They believe these rules will cause financial problems for local farmers. Many tractors drove through the city's main streets. The farmers planned to meet near "Europe House." They said they would stay until their demands were met.
The protests caused significant problems for Nicosia residents. Morning school buses were cancelled. Parents had to find other ways to get their children to school. Most students needed to be at school by 9:00 a.m. or 9:05 a.m. Absences during the strike would not be counted. However, some schools and bus routes were not affected.
The protests caused major traffic jams in the morning. Roads entering the city were very busy. Some farmers also went to the Presidential Palace. Police worked to control the situation and traffic. Parents of primary school children shared their difficulties. These protests showed how collective actions can affect daily life and politics.