Greek Parliament Opens Debate On Tsipras Confidence Vote
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published January 15, 2019 | 05:07 PM
Greece's parliament on Tuesday began a two-day debate on a confidence vote called by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after his coalition collapsed in a row over a planned name change deal with Macedonia
Athens, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 15th Jan, 2019 ) :Greece's parliament on Tuesday began a two-day debate on a confidence vote called by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras after his coalition collapsed in a row over a planned name change deal with Macedonia.
Tsipras called for the vote -- to be held on Wednesday night -- following the resignation of his ally and defence minister Panos Kammenos, head of the small nationalist ANEL party, after four years in coalition government.
Tsipras' leftist Syriza party has 145 deputies in the 300-member parliament, but could win the confidence vote with just 120 votes if enough lawmakers abstain.
A number of independent MPs, some from Kammenos' own party, have also pledged to support the government.
Kammenos had been threatening for months to resign over the Macedonia deal, which aims to end a 27-year dispute between the two neighbours.
Macedonian lawmakers last week approved a constitutional revision to rename their country the Republic of North Macedonia, but the agreement will only come into effect with the backing of the Greek parliament.
The European Union and NATO have hailed the deal, which would lift Greek objections to Macedonia joining both organisations.
The proposal faces resistance in Greece, which has a northern province of the same name just across the border, because of what critics see as the implied claims to Greek land and cultural heritage.
For most Greeks, Macedonia is the name of their history-rich northern province made famous by Alexander the Great's conquests.
In many cities in northern Greece, posters were put up overnight to urge local lawmakers to vote against the deal.
"Will you betray our Macedonia?" the posters read, each bearing the name and picture of local MPs from the Syriza and ANEL parties.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Tennis: ATP Barcelona Open results - 1st update
Swiatek's perfect 10 in Stuttgart as Vondrousova stuns Sabalenka
Arandu's roads closed due to flooding
Oil tanker catches fire in Islamabad’s Blue Area
Pakistan committed to ensure safety of foreign nationals: FO
Tennis: WTA Stuttgart results - 1st update
Four passengers injured as train hit an empty vehicle
Over- speeding bus crushed to death two bike riders
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
UAF celebrates Int'l Chinese Language Day
More Stories From World
-
Togo lawmakers approve contested political reform
6 hours ago -
NATO must choose 'whether we indeed are allies': Zelensky
6 hours ago -
US House to vote on Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan aid package
6 hours ago -
Calls for calm after reported Israeli strike on Iran
6 hours ago -
IMF calls on EU to deepen single market integration to boost growth
6 hours ago -
Second Ecuadoran mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
6 hours ago
-
Oil, gas drilling blocked in Alaska wilds as Biden seeks green cred
7 hours ago -
Man sets self on fire outside Trump trial
7 hours ago -
Turkey's Freedom Flotilla ready to set sail for Gaza
9 hours ago -
French teen dies from heart failure after knife attack near school
9 hours ago -
Iranians appear unfazed by Isfahan blasts
9 hours ago -
Ecuador mayor killed ahead of anti-crime referendum: police
9 hours ago