THOUSANDS of university students and supporters took part in a protest in central Athens today to oppose plans by Greece’s right-wing government to allow privately run universities.

The protesters, chanting “students united will win,” filed past the main Athens University building and statues of the ancient Greek philosophers Plato and Socrates as they marched through central Athens and riot police took up positions in side streets.

The Greek government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is pushing through several key pieces of legislation early in the new year, taking advantage of a landslide re-election in 2023 and what appears to be a huge lead in opinion polls.

The government argues that the measure would stop thousands of Greeks going abroad each year to study and would keep vital skills in the country.

But opponents say that it would undermine public universities, which are already facing funding difficulties.

The government has faced a series of protests by various professional groups in recent weeks, triggered by the legislative reforms and the cost of living crisis.

In central Greece today, farmers used tractors to block sections of a highway, demanding additional financial support from the government to reduce production costs.

Farmers’ groups told reporters that they were planning to hold meetings later last night to plan further action.