A debate in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) parliament on the four constitutional amendments required by the Prespa Agreement is expected to begin on Wednesday.
Two of the amendments submitted by the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev concern changing the country’s name to North Macedonia and the wording of the preamble to the Constitution. Other proposed amendments deal with the country’s interest in its diaspora, and on the respect of the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of neighboring countries.
According to the parliamentary rules of procedure, debate on each of the amendments can take up to three days.
However, given the absence of the main opposition VMRO-DPMNE opposition deputies, who oppose to the Prespa Agreement, the procedure is expected to be completed much more quickly, possibly even by the end of the week.
Then it will be the Greek parliament’s turn to approve the deal. The governing SYRIZA party is optimistic that the deal will go through, despite its opposition by all other parties, including SYRIZA junior government partner, the Independent Greeks party (ANEL).
The Greek government believes it has secured the 151 votes necessary to ratify the agreement, as several lawmakers from ANEL and centrist To Potami have said that they will support it.
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