Macedonian parliament ratifies name deal with Greece
SKOPJE, Macedonia — A deal to end a decades-long dispute over whether Greece can lay sole claim to Macedonia as a place name easily passed a ratification vote Wednesday in the parliament of neighbouring nation Macedonia.
Lawmakers approved a bill to rename their country North Macedonia, with 69 votes in favour in the 120-member parliament. The main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party boycotted the session.
The deal — which requires several more steps in the coming months to be implemented — has angered opposition parties and hardliners in both Greece and Macedonia, who claim their respective prime ministers conceded too much in reaching the agreement.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev told lawmakers that Skopje and Athens have reached a “dignified and acceptable” agreement for both countries.