Greek lawmakers have voted down a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. The vote was called over a deal to end a long-running name dispute with the neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. The left-led coalition government of Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Saturday survived a no-confidence vote brought by the conservative opposition New Democracy party after the government reached a landmark agreement with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) over its name.The parliament voted 153-127 against the motion. The deal, struck on Tuesday, would allow Macedonia to rename itself North Macedonia. It has angered Greek nationalists, who insist that any retention of the name “Macedonia” by the neighboring country implies claims to Greece’s province of the same name and usurps ancient Greek heritage and history.
Ancient Macedonia was the birthplace of the king Alexander the Great, who created one of the largest empires in the ancient world.
Ahead of the no-confidence vote, senior opposition lawmaker Fofi Gennimata said the deal needed to be “improved before it is too late.”
“We do not trust this government,” said Gennimata, who serves as the leader of the socialist Movement for Change. “Your administration is incompetent and dangerous.”
Full Article: Greek government survives no-confidence vote over Macedonia name deal | News | DW | 16.06.2018.
