Macedonians vote on whether to change country’s name
Macedonians have begun voting in a key referendum on whether to re-name their country North Macedonia in a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock its path to NATO and EU membership. Polls for some 1.8 million voters opened at 7am local time (5GMT) and closed at 7pm. The question on the […]
Macedonians vote on whether to change country’s name
Macedonians have begun voting in a key referendum on whether to re-name their country North Macedonia in a bid to settle a long-running row with Greece and unlock its path to NATO and EU membership.
Polls for some 1.8 million voters opened at 7am local time (5GMT) and closed at 7pm. The question on the referendum ballot is: “Are you for NATO and EU membership with acceptance of the agreement with Greece”.
The referendum is not binding, but a ‘yes’ majority would give parliament a political mandate to change the constitution.
Macedonia has struggled for recognition of its name since its birth in 1991 when the landlocked country declared independence from Yugoslavia.
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev argues that accepting a new name is a price worth paying for admission into the EU and NATO. President Gjorge Ivanov, who is allied with the nationalist, has said he will boycott the referendum