Republic of North Macedonia born amid mass protests

Alexis Tsipras survives no confidence vote
to bring end to long-running saga with northern neighbour one step
closer

In Depth

Last week it was announced the former Yugoslav republic of
Macedonia had agreed a deal with the Greek government to rename itself
the “Republic of North Macedonia”.

What’s the controversy?

Greece has been in dispute with Macedonia since 1991, arguing
its name could imply territorial claims over the Greek province of
Macedonia and an appropriation of ancient Greek culture and
civilisation.

Political opponents had accused Tsipras of making too many
concessions over the deal, leading thousands of Greeks to
protesting against the accord outside parliament on Saturday and
calling the prime minister a “traitor”.

Reuters says the storm of protest over “a deal
seen as a national sellout by some on both sides” has laid bare the
intense opposition to the accord in both
countries.

An opinion poll by the Proto Thema newspaper found up to 70% of
Greeks object to the compromise, with Macedonian nationalists
vowing to defend the country’s name and pride.

What was at stake?

Had Tsipras lost the confidence  vote, it would most
likely have signalled early elections, with the issue of
Macedonia’s name change front and centre of the campaign.

His narrow victory enabled the foreign ministers of Greece and
Macedonia to sign the accord at a ceremony on Sunday in the
presence of representatives from the UN and EU.

What happens next?

The agreement still requires the approval of both parliaments
and a referendum in Macedonia.

Reuters says “that approval is far from assured, as it faces
stiff opposition from the Greek public, and Macedonia’s president
has vowed to block the deal”.

Under the deal, Greece will lift its objections to the renamed
nation joining the EU and Nato, a move which will be opposed by
Russia.

“There will be fears that Russia may now try to somehow
influence the vote,” James Ker-Lindsay, professor of politics and
policy at St. Mary’s University in London, told Reuters. “Given
recent allegations of Moscow’s involvement in other elections and
referendums, this will be a real concern for Nato and the EU.”