Hundreds of Greeks protested against the name change proposal to call neighbouring Macedonia ‘Northern Macedonia’, outside the parliament in Athens on Friday, as lawmakers debated a censure vote against the government.
Protesters, including priests and members from far-right party Golden Dawn, held the country’s flag, sang national anthem and played traditional Cretan lyra in front of the police.
The naming dispute dates back to Macedonia’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia in 1991. As a result, international organisations and states that do not recognise the constitutional name ‘Republic of Macedonia’ refer to it as ‘the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia’ (FYROM).