Vote on ratification of Prespa Agreement to be held at 14:30 on Friday

The plenary interrupted its session at 1:30 on Friday morning and debate and resumed at 9:00 on Friday.

Explaining the reasons for the decision to reporters, Parliament President Nikos Voutsis noted that only half the MPs that have put their names down to speak had addressed the house by Thursday evening, which meant that roughly half would have to be dropped in order for the vote to be held at the end of Thursday's session.

Given the promise that there would be ample time for all MPs to express their views, he added, there would be no point in continuing the parliamentary session through the night so that the voting might be held early in the morning, since there was no pressing deadline for its completion.
According to Voutsis, the number of speakers, including the party leaders, will be approximately 230 in total.

"The Prespes Agreement is a historic step not only for the two countries and the wider region, but for the whole of Europe. Because it establishes relations of friendship, cooperation and stability in an environment in which the world is constantly destabilising. Its ratification is a patriotic task. And the majority of the parliament will respond to this task, leaving aside political differences and petty political games," Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in a recent interview with 'Avgi' newspaper.

Main opposition New Democracy has decried the agreement as scandalous and traitorous, an agreement forced upon the Greek people without their consent, and without proper democratic and institutional procedure.