Greek legislators have ratified an agreement to end a near three-decade dispute over neighbouring Macedonia’s name in a landmark vote intended to clear the small country to be renamed North Macedonia in its quest for Nato membership.
The deal passed with 153 votes in the 300-member Greek parliament, two more than needed. It had faced fierce opposition and cost prime minister Alexis Tsipras his parliamentary majority after a right-wing partner in the governing coalition quit in protest.
Mr Tsipras’s left-wing Syriza party holds 145 seats in parliament. Independent legislators provided the votes needed for ratification.
Under the deal, Macedonia changes its name to North Macedonia and Greece will drop its objections to the country joining Nato and eventually the European Union.
The vote came after three days of acrimonious parliamentary debate and numerous street protests, some of which turned violent.
Scores of protesters who braved torrential rain and driving wind outside parliament chanted “traitors” as the legislators voted inside.
Greece has long argued that use of the name Macedonia implied territorial claims on its own northern province of the same name. The issue has been contentious for decades and has whipped up nationalist and patriotic sentiment in both countries.
Opposition was particularly fierce in the northern Greek region of Macedonia, which borders the former Yugoslav republic that claimed the same name after declaring independence in 1991.
Discover more from London Glossy Post
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
