Greek defense minister resigns over Macedonia name change
Tsipras will ask for a vote of confidence in Parliament
13 January, 13:29He added he had a "frank discussion" with Kammenos, whom he thanked for his government partnership. Tsipras also announced that Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will replace Kammenos as defense minister. Greece and Macedonia agreed last June to a deal that would change the name of Greece's northern neighbor to North Macedonia. In exchange, Greece would lift its objections to the country joining NATO.
Macedonia's parliament ratified the deal on Friday and the Greek parliament now needs a majority for its ratification. Tsipras' left-wing Syriza party has 145 deputies in the 300-member Greek Parliament, while Kammenos' right-populist Independent Greeks party has seven. With the departure of his coalition partner, Tsipras would need opposition help to pass the Macedonia name deal. DEMETRIS NELLAS. (AP-ANSA).