Greek parliament to vote Thursday on Macedonia name deal

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Greece's parliament will vote on Thursday on an accord to end a longstanding dispute between Athens and Skopje over Macedonia's name, the Athens News Agency reported on Monday.

Lawmakers will discuss a draft name-change deal between Greece and Macedonia on Wednesday and Thursday before the vote.

Macedonia's parliament earlier this month ratified the agreement, which changes its name to North Macedonia. Greek parliamentary endorsement is a necessary step for the tiny ex-Yugoslav republic to start the process of joining the European Union and NATO. Greece has vetoed this process until now.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks at the Greek Parliament in Athens at the start of a two-day debate on a confidence vote he called after his coalition collapsed in a row over a planned name change deal with Macedonia, January 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who won a confidence vote last week, appears to have secured the majority needed to get the accord approved by the 300-seat house.

Tsipras needs at least half of lawmakers present in the house during the vote for ratification, but he has said he wants an absolute majority of 151 deputies.

On Sunday, clashes between police and a group of masked protesters left several injured in the capital as tens of thousands demonstrated against the name change deal with neighboring Macedonia.

Macedonia, Greece sign name change accord

According to the government, "the incidents were provoked by extremists, members of the Golden Dawn, who attempted to enter parliament."

Seven people who were arrested on Sunday have been charged, including two Turkish men and one German woman. Seventeen civilians and 25 policemen were injured, the Ministry of Health said on Monday.

A wide range of Greek political parties, from the far-right Golden Dawn to the Socialists, oppose the accord to rename Macedonia, which was the ancient homeland of Alexander the Great, and the name evokes strong emotions among Greeks who consider it an integral part of their culture and heritage.

Many Greeks believe the use of the name Macedonia implies a territorial claim over their country's own northern region of that name and have staged large protests.

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters