Greek parliament vote on Prespes deal delayed
The Greek parliament speaker’s office says a vote to ratify a deal with neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to change that country's name to normalize relations and allow it to join NATO has been pushed back to Friday.
The delay aims to accommodate the large number of lawmakers who want to speak during the debate.
The vote had been scheduled to take place late Thursday night, but the office said there would not have been enough time to allow everyone registered to speak to have a turn on the podium.
Under the agreement signed last year, FYROM will change its name to “Republic of North Macedonia” and Greece will drop its objections to the country's accession to NATO, ending a nearly three decade-long dispute. But the deal faces strong opposition in both countries.
About 1,500 police officers have taken up positions around Athens before demonstrations planned against Greece’s ratification of the deal.
Early Thursday, protesters from the Greek Communist Party (KKE) draped two giant banners opposing the deal over the walls of the ancient Acropolis.
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s government needs support from up to six opposition lawmakers for the agreement to be ratified.
Opponents argue that the deal doesn't end a potential territorial threat to Greece’s northern region of Macedonia. Mass demonstrations last Sunday were marred by extensive violence. [AP]
