Alexis Tsipras called for the no confidence vote himself after defence minister Panos Kammenos sensationally quit leaving the country’s coalition government’s future hanging in the balance. Mr Kammenos’ resignation comes after a row over a name change of neighbouring nation Macedonia, which voted to become the Republic of North Macedonia, sparking fury from the head of the nationalist Independent Greeks party. But with the vote of no confidence now on the cards, Mr Kammenos’s resignation now threatens to collapse the Greek government. He quit and announced he would be taking six other ministers with him in protest at the name change.

Prime Minister Mr Tsipras said: “I have taken my decision and have informed the president of parliament that we will immediately move to the process outlined by the constitution for the renewal of the confidence in my government.” The confidence vote is expected to take place later in the week, with Mr Kammenos’s stating he would not support Mr Tsipras in the ballot. Mr Kammenos’s party had seven MPs, enough to get Tsipras's administration past the threshold of 150 deputies in the 300-member parliament.

The ferociously left-wing Prime Minister forged a coalition with his right-wing deputy in 2015, with the opposites both pledging to bring Greece back from the bring of bankruptcy. The Greek province of Macedonia proved to be a sticking point for the twosome however, with Mr Kammenos believing the name change for the region to become a Republic was an act to attempt to remove it of its Greek sovereignty.

Greece is not the only EU member state to face a no confidence vote on its government. France’s President Emmanuel Macron faced a no confidence vote week ago over the destruction caused by Paris’s Yellow Vest protesters triggered by a spike in fuel costs. UK Prime Minister Theresa May also suffered a no confidence vote over her Brexit deal and like Mr Macron, managed to survive.

But Mrs May is to out of the woods yet. Tomorrow, a meaningful vote on her controversial deal with the EU will take place. The deal aims to keep the UK ties to the EU custom union and single market.</s>Alexis Tsipras called for the no confidence vote himself after defence minister Panos Kammenos sensationally quit leaving the country’s coalition government’s future hanging in the balance. Mr Kammenos’ resignation comes after a row over a name change of neighbouring nation Macedonia, which voted to become the Republic of North Macedonia, sparking fury from the head of the nationalist Independent Greeks party. But with the vote of no confidence now on the cards, Mr Kammenos’s resignation now threatens to collapse the Greek government. He quit and announced he would be taking six other ministers with him in protest at the name change.

Prime Minister Mr Tsipras said: “I have taken my decision and have informed the president of parliament that we will immediately move to the process outlined by the constitution for the renewal of the confidence in my government.” The confidence vote is expected to take place later in the week, with Mr Kammenos’s stating he would not support Mr Tsipras in the ballot. Mr Kammenos’s party had seven MPs, enough to get Tsipras's administration past the threshold of 150 deputies in the 300-member parliament.

The ferociously left-wing Prime Minister forged a coalition with his right-wing deputy in 2015, with the opposites both pledging to bring Greece back from the bring of bankruptcy. The Greek province of Macedonia proved to be a sticking point for the twosome however, with Mr Kammenos believing the name change for the region to become a Republic was an act to attempt to remove it of its Greek sovereignty.

Greece is not the only EU member state to face a no confidence vote on its government. France’s President Emmanuel Macron faced a no confidence vote week ago over the destruction caused by Paris’s Yellow Vest protesters triggered by a spike in fuel costs. UK Prime Minister Theresa May also suffered a no confidence vote over her Brexit deal and like Mr Macron, managed to survive.

But Mrs May is to out of the woods yet. Tomorrow, a meaningful vote on her controversial deal with the EU will take place. The deal aims to keep the UK ties to the EU custom union and single market.</s>Gain a global perspective on the US and go beyond with curated news and analysis from 600 journalists in 50+ countries covering politics, business, innovation, trends and more.</s>Greece’s leftist prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, is expected to survive a parliamentary vote of confidence on Wednesday after his right-wing coalition partner quit in disagreement over a deal that aims to end a years-long name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).

 

 The coalition governing Greece for the past four years crumbled on Sunday after Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, head of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, left the government, leaving Tsipras short of an outright majority in parliament and raising the possibility of snap elections.

 

 But investors are relatively confident that Tsipras can win the vote and the market reaction has been muted. Even if he loses, it would just mean bringing elections scheduled for October forward by a few months, bankers and analysts said.

 

 “A positive confidence vote (for Tsipras) remains the most likely outcome but even the eventuality of snap elections could be viewed as a shortening of the period of uncertainty,” said Tasos Anastasatos, chief economist at Athens-based Eurobank.

 

 Greek lawmakers will start debating the confidence motion on Tuesday, culminating in a vote late on Wednesday evening.

 

 SYRIZA has 145 seats in the 300-seat chamber and the support of one independent lawmaker, so needs at least five more to win.

 

 On Monday Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura and one other ANEL lawmaker said they would support Tsipras. Kammenos promptly expelled them both from the party. Two more ANEL lawmakers have said they will support Tsipras.

 

 However, the crisis has cast in doubt the fate of a 2018 deal that changes the name of FYROM. Greek parliamentary endorsement of the new name – “Republic of North Macedonia” – is required for the tiny Balkan nation to join the European Union and NATO.

 

 The main centre-right opposition party, New Democracy, opposes the deal and is some eight to 12 percentage points ahead of Tsipras’s SYRIZA party in opinion polls. FYROM’s parliament ratified the deal last week.

 

 ‘Political risk’

 

 If he wins the confidence vote, Tsipras aims to bring the FYROM name deal to parliament and to complete planned reforms before Greece’s election.

 

 Tsipras made himself unpopular among voters shortly after being elected in 2015 by signing up to a third international bailout that entailed painful austerity measures, but the Macedonian riddle is what could potentially prove his undoing.

 

 The name “Macedonia,” with its links to ancient Greek history and culture, is a deeply emotive issue for many Greeks. They say Skopje’s use of the name implies a territorial claim on a northern Greek province also called Macedonia.

 

 Defending the name deal on Sunday, Tsipras said: “As a government we made the choice to lift the historical burden, to proceed assuming the political risk, and cost, of this process.”

 

 The yield on Greece’s benchmark 10-year bond was down two basis points in afternoon trade on Monday, while the stock market traded 1.3 percent lower.

 

 “The market thinks that Tsipras has the votes he needs in the bag. That’s why bonds are quiet,” said one trader.

 

 The confidence vote, whatever the outcome, is not expected to have much impact on Greece’s debt financing and privatisation plans. The debt agency plans to raise 5-7 billion euros from bond markets this year.

 

 Wolfango Piccoli, co-president of London-based Teneo political consultancy firm, said the end of the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition may prove positive for investors as it could force Tsipras to call snap polls, possibly around the May 26 elections to the European Parliament.

 

 “This would reduce the risk that 2019 will turn out as a write-off year due to an electoral cycle that would otherwise last until late in the year,” he said. [Reuters]</s>ATHENS (Reuters) - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday said he would call a confidence vote in his government after his coalition ally quit, leaving him bereft of a parliamentary majority and raising the possibility of snap elections.

Earlier, Greece’s right-wing defense minister resigned in protest at a deal ending a long running dispute with Macedonia over its name, saying he was taking his other six ministers in cabinet with him.

Panos Kammenos’s Independent Greeks party had seven MPs, enough to get Tsipras’s administration past the threshold of 150 deputies in the 300-member parliament. Tsipras’s Syriza party has 145 seats and also the support of one independent lawmaker.

“I have taken my decision and have informed the president of parliament that we will immediately move to the process outlined by the constitution for the renewal of the confidence in my government,” Tsipras told journalists.

The confidence vote is expected to take place later this week. Kammenos said he would not support Tsipras in the vote.

Syriza is trailing between eight and 12 points behind the main conservative New Democracy party, which also opposed the deal with Macedonia, in pre-election polls.

A firebrand leftist, Tsipras was elected in 2015 on a platform of anti-austerity but was forced into a third international bailout to bring back Greece from the brink of bankruptcy. The country exited a bailout program in mid-2018.

Kammenos, who forged a coalition pact with Tsipras in 2015, never concealed his hostility to the deal with Skopje, which renames the tiny Balkan country Republic of North Macedonia.

Greece has a province called Macedonia and long demanded Skopje change its country name to remove what Athens considered to be an implied claim to Greek sovereign territory.

Macedonia’s aspirations to European Union and NATO ties had been blocked by Greece over the name dispute.

Kammenos said that any deal including “Macedonia” in the name of the Balkan state to Greece’s north was unacceptable as the name was irrevocably tied to Greek civilization and culture.

He called the accord a national sell-out and had repeatedly threatened to leave if it came before the Greek parliament for ratification - expected later this month.

The government hopes, however, that the pact will still pass with the support of center-left and independent lawmakers.

Macedonia’s parliament ratified the deal by passing an amendment to the constitution on Friday.

The two countries struck the deal on the new name in June last year, but Macedonia will start using it only after the parliament in Athens also approves the change.</s>ATHENS: Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Sunday said he would call a confidence vote in his government after his coalition ally quit, leaving him bereft of a parliamentary majority and raising the possibility of snap elections.

Earlier, Greece's right-wing defence minister resigned in protest at a deal ending a long running dispute with Macedonia over its name, saying he was taking his other six ministers in cabinet with him.

The crisis left the fate of a 2018 deal changing the name of Macedonia to North Macedonia in limbo. Greek parliamentary endorsement of the name is required for the tiny Balkan nation to join the European Union and NATO. Macedonia's parliament has already ratified the accord with a constitutional amendment.

Outgoing Defence Minister Panos Kammenos's Independent Greeks party had seven MPs, enough to get Tsipras's administration past the threshold of 150 deputies in the 300-member parliament. Tsipras's Syriza party has 145 seats and also the support of one independent lawmaker.

"I have taken my decision and have informed the president of parliament that we will immediately move to the process outlined by the constitution for the renewal of the confidence in my government," Tsipras told journalists.

The confidence vote is expected to take place later this week and parliamentary speaker Nikos Voutsis proposed Jan. 16. Kammenos said he would not support Tsipras in the vote.

Syriza is trailing between eight and 12 points behind the main conservative New Democracy party, which also opposed the deal with Macedonia, in pre-election polls.

A firebrand leftist, Tsipras was elected in 2015 on a platform of anti-austerity but was forced into a third international bailout to bring back Greece from the brink of bankruptcy. The country exited a bailout programme in mid-2018.

Kammenos, who forged a coalition pact with Tsipras in 2015, never concealed his hostility to the deal with Skopje.

Greece has a province called Macedonia and long demanded Skopje change its country name to remove what Athens considered to be an implied claim to Greek sovereign territory.

The wrangle had long frustrated Macedonia's EU and NATO aspirations. Greece is a member of both institutions and has a say in who gets to join, like other member countries.

Kammenos said that any deal including "Macedonia" in the name of the Balkan state to Greece's north was unacceptable as the name was irrevocably tied to Greek civilization and culture.

The Greek parliament's vote on the name deal has been expected later this month. The government hopes the pact will pass with the support of centre-left and independent lawmakers.</s>Main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis blasted PM Alexis Tsipras and declared that the political divorce of the two ruling coalition partners, SYRIZA and Panos Kammenos’ Independent Greeks, was a staged farce designed to serve the political calculations of both.

According to Mitsotakis, the agreement was that Tsipras would keep his parliamentary majority and Kammenos would not have to approve the Prespa Agreement and would retain the five MPs needed to be recognised as a parliamentary party.

He said four of Kammenos’ MPs will support the government on the confidence vote and on the Prespa Accord ratification, and that he would expel two of them from the party.

Mitsotakis called on the six MPs who will give Tsipras their support in the confidence vote to realise the consequences and not to support the government in the confidence vote.

The main opposition leader declared that SYRIZA and the Independent Greeks have essentially merged and that this demonstrates the moral decline in Greek politics.

He said that the longer Tsipras stays in power the more harm for the country.

Mitsotakis admitted that SYRIZA may muster the 151 votes to win the confidence vote, but that this would mean greater economic insecurity which would hinder growth and investment.

“In the coming period it is certain that Mr. Tsipras will lash out and tell many lies and do further harm to the country,” he said.

“He [Tsipras] will not enjoy the trust of the people. The clearest solution is elections. I hope they are held as soon as possible,” Mitsotakis stressed, asserting that his party is prepared to govern.</s>Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will face a vote of confidence in parliament after his government's junior coalition partner quit in disagreement over a deal to end a name dispute with Macedonia.

Debate will begin on Tuesday, with a vote late Wednesday, and Tsipras is expected to receive enough support in parliament, Reuters reported.

The vote was called after Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), pulled his party out of government following a vote in the Macedonian parliament in which lawmakers supported changing the country's name to North Macedonia to distinguish it from Greece's northern region, also called Macedonia.

Tsipras, whose Syriza party has 145 seats in the 300-seat parliament, as well as the support of one independent lawmaker, only needs the backing of a handful of MPs to survive.

Read this next: Gdańsk mayor dies after stabbing</s>The leader of the Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos, has withdrawn from Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’s coalition government, prompting Tsipras to say that he would seek a vote of confidence from the Parliament in Athens.

In his statements, the Greek Prime Minister announced that he would ask for a vote of confidence from Parliament, in order, he said, for the work of the Government to continue.

Tsipras said that he had accepted the resignation of Kammenos as Minister of National Defence and said that he would be replaced by the Chief of Staff of the Hellenic Armed Forces, Evangelos Apostolakis.

The entire statement of the Greek Prime Minister:

To continue reading, please click here.</s>Defense Minister Panos Kammenos of the right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL) said Sunday that his party will leave the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of SYRIZA ahead of a crucial vote in the Parliament to end a 27-year dispute with Macedonia.

After a nearly 30-minute meeting with Tsipras at the Prime Ministry in Athens, Kammenos told reporters they took part in the government of national unity and pulled Greece from memorandums, but cannot resume their cooperation regarding the deal.

Kammenos has long opposed the accord with neighboring Macedonia signed by their governments last year.

"The Macedonia name issue... doesn't allow me not to sacrifice the minister's chair," Kammenos said. He said he would also pull six other ministers from his party out of the government.

The impact of the resignation on the governing coalition was not immediately clear. Parliamentary elections are due in Greece by October. Tsipras's coalition has 153 seats in the 300-strong parliament, 145 of them from his leftist SYRIZA party.

Tsipras hopes to rely on lawmakers from the small pro-EU To Potami (The River) party to get the agreement approved, while some of ANEL's lawmakers also remain ambivalent to the deal.

Kammenos, who forged a coalition pact with Tsipras in 2015, has never hidden his hostility to the deal with Skopje, which renames the tiny Balkan country Republic of North Macedonia. Greece has a province called Macedonia and long demanded Skopje change its country name to remove what Athens considered to be an implied claim to Greek sovereign territory.

Macedonian lawmakers voted to rename their country the Republic of North Macedonia on Friday and the agreement now needs backing from the Greek parliament to come into effect.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev on Saturday called on Greece to ratify the deal.

"Our parliament found the strength but it wasn't easy. But I am convinced that the Greek parliament will also find the strength to make the decision," he said.

Meanwhile, ahead of the vote in Athens, two news websites alleged that a prominent member of Greece's main opposition New Democracy party -- which rejects the name deal -- called on its members to phone lawmakers of the ANEL party and urge them to vote against the agreement.

A New Democracy member allegedly revealed the personal mobile phone numbers of ANEL lawmakers. Athens News Agency said the news reports prompted a Greek prosecutor to order a preliminary investigation into the allegations.

The investigation, according to judicial sources, is looking into whether personal data was violated as part of the probe.
Alexis Tsipras, leader of SYRIZA in Greece, announces a vote of confidence in his government after Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL), announces that it will withdraw from the ruling coalition due to opposition to the Prespa agreement.