Final phase of constitutional amendments on the country’s name begins today

The third and final phase of constitutional amendments stemming from the Prespa Agreement signed with Greece is set to start today.

In order for the proposed constitutional amendments to be enacted, two thirds of MPs should vote in favour.

The country’s Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev has declared that he’s optimistic that the necessary 80 votes will be secured in the final voting of the Prespa Agreement. Under this agreement, the country’s name will change to “Republic of North Macedonia”.

Opposition VMRO-DPMNE, which said it would not take part at the debate, has threatened to continue expelling MPs from the party if they vote in favor of the constitutional revision, following the exclusion of seven lawmakers after they said Yes to the opening of the constitutional revision process.

MPs will discuss 10 amendments to the draft-constitutional amendments, six coming from the Alliance for Albanians, three from BESA and one from the VMRO-DPMNE independent MP group.

“There is no more important ethnic interest for the Albanians from Macedonia’s NATO membership. It is a bigger and more essential interest of the Albanians over any other ethnic interest now, because it is a guarantee that the Albanians will be part of the Western European family of values that they tend to achieve for generations,” Deputy Prime Minister Osmani said.

Under parliament’s rulebook, the final parliamentary session may last more than ten days. Once this process is finalized, then the agreement is expected to be ratified in the Greek parliament.