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Macedonians will go to the polls on Sunday for a referendum that could mark the beginning of the young nation's acceptance in some of the world's most powerful international blocs.
Macedonia has been grappling with a name conflict with neighboring Greece since its accession to the independence of Yugoslavia in 1991. Athens has blocked the entry of Macedonia into the European Union (EU) and NATO on this basis, leaving the small nation isolated on the diplomatic and economic plane.
The grievance comes from the fact that Macedonia shares its name with a Greek province in the north. Athens maintains that by retaining the same name, the Skopje rulers tacitly claim the Greek region.
The two Macedonia were once part of a Roman province of the same name and each claims the legacy of the legendary Alexander the Great, who created one of the greatest empires in the history of the world. .
The two nations are now agreeing on a solution after decades of quarrels. If given the support of the electorate, Skopje will officially adopt the name of Republic of Northern Macedonia. It will replace the current full name of the country of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev hopes to win the day. The referendum will answer a single question: "Are you in favor of joining the European Union and NATO by accepting the agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece ? "
According to Reuters, Zaev expects the country to support the deal, paving the way for the accession of North Macedonia next spring, once the Skopje Assembly will have ratified the agreement.
According to a poll by Telma TV, 57 percent of the 1.8 million voters plan to go to the polls on Sunday, and 70 percent of them announced their support for the name change.
A positive vote would end nearly three decades of animosity between neighbors, which would have resulted in both serious and ridiculous clashes. After Greece blocked Macedonia's application to join NATO in 2008 and wiped out its hopes for the EU, Skopje began by building statues of Greek heroes – including Alexander – in the capital.
Supporters say the country desperately needs access to the protection and investment offered by NATO and EU membership. The country's economy is in a difficult situation after a two-year financial crisis that pushed the unemployment rate up to about 20%. The average monthly salary in the Balkan nation is only $ 411, the lowest in the region, Reuters said.
Macedonia's economy stagnated last year due to a two-year financial crisis with an unemployment rate above 20%, one of the highest rates in the Balkans, and an average monthly net salary of 350 euros ($ 411), the lowest in the region.
Zaev told the BBC that membership in NATO and the EU was vital for the country's development. "We do not change our name because we want to do it," he said. "We are doing it for our future in the EU and NATO. Everyone knows why we do it.
The participation rate must exceed 50% to be valid. But nationalist groups, including the United Macedonian party, which has links with the party of unified Russia, Russian President Vladimir Putin, are boycotting the vote against the name change, in the hope of nullifying the country's victory. government.
The analysis of the Transatlantic Integrity Commission (TCEI) revealed a high number of new accounts spreading nationalist propaganda on Twitter and Facebook. The organization said the automated accounts were "behind an effort to suppress voter turnout".
TCEI noted that new accounts under 60 days represent about 10% of online discussions on the subject. This is a larger proportion than that observed in the July election in Mexico and more than three times higher than that recorded in the recent Italian vote – much more populous countries.
US Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis said Russia was interfering with the referendum, although Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied the accusations.
If the turnout is above 50% and majority voting is decided by a majority, the bill will be sent to the National Assembly of Macedonia, which will have to adopt the change by a two-thirds majority.
Finally, it will have to be ratified by the Greek parliament. The ruling coalition is fractured, which means there is no guarantee that they will follow the order given by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to approve the deal.
The obstacles are not lacking, but Sunday could well mark the beginning of a whole new era for Macedonia, or rather North Macedonia.
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