Vidostream | News, sport and opinion from the Vidostream's US Edition

https://vidostream.com

Macedonia PM vows to press on with name change despite referendum failure

Low turnout negates referendum in which vast majority of voters backed name change
A supporter of a movement for voters to boycott the referendum celebrates in central Skopje, Macedonia, after election officials gave low turnout figures on Sunday. (Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press)

A supporter of a movement for voters to boycott the referendum celebrates in central Skopje, Macedonia, after election officials gave low turnout figures on Sunday. (Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press)

Macedonia's prime minister pledged on Sunday to press on with a vote in parliament to change the country's name to resolve a decades-old dispute with Greece, despite failing to secure the 50 per cent turnout at a referendum required to make it valid.

The proposed name change is part of an agreement reached in June by pro-Western Prime Minister Zoran Zaev with Greece to resolve the dispute over the country's name, which had prevented Macedonia from joining NATO or the EU.

With 85 per cent of votes counted, official turnout was just 36 per cent, and election officials made clear there was no chance the threshold would be cleared.

"On this referendum, it is clear that the decision has not been made," election commission head Oliver Derkoski told reporters.

The people who did vote overwhelmingly backed the name change — more than 90 per cent voted yes with 63 per cent of polling stations reporting. But that had never been in doubt, since opponents of the change had urged followers not to vote, rather than vote no.

"It is clear that the agreement with Greece has not received the green light from the people," main nationalist opposition VMRO-DPMNE party leader Hristiajn Mickoski told journalists.

A man casts his ballot at polling station in Skopje. Turnout was too low to make the result valid. (Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press)
CaptionA man casts his ballot at polling station in Skopje. Turnout was too low to make the result valid. (Boris Grdanoski/Associated Press)

The referendum was itself not legally binding, but lawmakers had pledged to abide by it, and the failure to reach the turnout threshold means opponents can now freely vote against the deal.

The nationalist opposition holds 49 seats in the 120-seat parliament, enough to block the two-thirds majority required to change the constitution.

In an address, Zaev made no mention of the turnout but said the votes of those who had backed the change must be respected. He pledged to hold a vote in parliament on the name change, and call an early election if lawmakers failed to enact it.

"I am determined to take Macedonia into the European Union and NATO," Zaev said. He spoke again later in the evening, along similar lines: "It is time to support European Macedonia."

Greece vetoes over name dispute

The Greek foreign ministry said it respected the will of the people of the country, which it refers to by the provisional name Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

The referendum passed judgment on the agreement with Greece reached in June, under which Macedonia would change its name to the Republic of North Macedonia. Greece, which has its own province called Macedonia, maintains that its northern neighbours' name represents a claim on its territory.

Because of the dispute, Greece has vetoed Macedonia's entrance into NATO and the EU. While polls have long showed that a vast majority of Macedonians want to join NATO and the EU, nationalist opponents of the name change argued that it undermined the ethnic identity of Macedonia's Slavic majority.

Protesters hold a banner during a rally against Greece's name deal with neighbouring Macedonia on Sunday near the Evzonoi border crossing in Greece. (Giannis Papanikos/Associated Press)
Caption
Protesters hold a banner during a rally against Greece's name deal with neighbouring Macedonia on Sunday near the Evzonoi border crossing in Greece. (Giannis Papanikos/Associated Press)

The question on the referendum ballot read: "Are you for NATO and EU membership with acceptance of the agreement with Greece."

Supporters of the name change argued that it was a price worth paying to pursue admission into bodies such as the EU and NATO.

"I came today to vote for the future of the country, for young people in Macedonia so they can live freely under the umbrella of the European Union because it means safer lives for all of us," said Olivera Georgijevska, 79, in Skopje.

But opponents said the name change represented national humiliation.

"We are for NATO and EU, but we want to join with our heads up, not through the service door," said Vladimir Kavadarkov, who backed the referendum boycott. "We are a poor country, but we do have dignity."

Source: CBC News:

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy.
You did not use the site, Click here to remain logged. Timeout: 60 second