The president of North Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov has refused to sign proclamation decrees for 11 bills approved by the country’s parliament bearing the newly changed name of the country.
President Ivanov has “always acted in accordance with the solemn oath that he would protect the constitution and defend the interest of the Republic of Macedonia,” the office of the president told lawmakers.
Having been elected as president with the support of the conservative opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, Mr Ivanov was a fierce critic of the name change deal signed between Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras.
The so-called Prespa Agreement ended Greek objections to North Macedonia joining NATO and the European Union
Pro-government MPs argue that the country is facing a potential constitutional crisis and that Mr Ivanov’s actions could jeopardise North Macedonia’s chances of being invited to begin EU membership negotiations in June.
Mr Ivanov, who has been the president of the country since 2009, will complete his second and final term on May 12.
Oh wow, this is not going to go down well, North Macedonian President? not only it’s derogatory but the agreement recognises us as Macedonians and not as north Macedonians. I will be sharing this with the Macedonian sites. wait for the black lash it should say the Macedonian president. Not Happy
He wasn’t referred to for his being a citizen of North Macedonia, which would be “Macedonian”, or on the matter of his ethnicity, which the agreement doesn’t deal with and has mostly remained “Macedonian”. He is being referred to as a state-related organ of North Macedonia, the president, therefore “North Macedonian” is being used.
[…] president Gjorge Ivanov, who opposes the Prespa Agreement that finally ended a dispute with Greece other the country’s name, was barred from running […]