Greeks hold mass rally against use of Macedonia name in Athens

Not a single protest against government anti-austerity measures, protests against wages and pensions cuts failed to gather as many Greeks as Sunday’s rally held in the central Syntagma Square in Athens against the use of Macedonia name, MIA’s correspondent from Athens reports.

Hundreds of thousands of Greeks have taken to the streets of Athens, including young boys and girls, clerks, holding Greek flags in their hands.

“Tsipras and Kammenos are selling Macedonia, elections now” reads the banner held by young Greeks.

“Macedonia means Greece” read a big banner on Syntagma square, which has been the main scene of protests against austerity since the debt crisis began in 2010. Protesters waved Greek flags and held banners reading “Hands off Macedonia!”, Reuters reports.

The Greeks told MIA’s correspondent in Athens that are proud to attend the rally “to defend the name Macedonia” instead drinking coffee and have lunch in nearby restaurants.

Organizers, who hope 1 million people will attend, used a crane to raise a massive Greek flag over the square.

“We are trying to show the politicians … that they must not give up the name ‘Macedonia’,” said 55-year-old protester Manos Georgiou.

About 700 left-wing and anarchist protesters set up a counter-demonstration nearby, bearing banners calling for Balkan unity.

Dozens of riot police were deployed to keep the two demonstrations separate.

About 100,000 people attended a similar protest last month in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki.