Greek Defense Minister Panos Kammenos resigned today in protest at the name change of Macedonia. The agreement, which should end the decades-long name dispute, make it impossible for him to continue to carry out his duties, said the chairman of the nationalist party Independent Greeks (ANEL).
Unclear consequences for government
The other government members of his party would retire, he announced after a meeting with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. It is unclear what this means for the Greek government coalition. The SYRIZA party of Tsipras comes to 145 seats in parliament and is dependent on a majority in the 300-seat chamber on the members of the ANEL. Parliamentary elections must be held in Greece until October. Tsipras announced that he would vote in parliament for a vote of confidence.
„Republic of North Macedonia“
Kammenos has long rejected the agreement with Macedonia, which was signed last year. Even the main opposition party Nea Dimokratia is against the agreement.
On Friday, the Macedonian parliament in Skopje approved the country’s name change to „Republic of North Macedonia“. The Athens Parliament also needs to ratify the name change in order for it to take effect. It is intended to pave the way for the former Yugoslav republic into the EU.
