New provocations from Skopje

"I can tell you that nowhere in the Prespa Agreement is the designation 'Macedonian' or 'Macedonia' prohibited. These are regulated by Article 7, paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Agreement, and we can ultimately agree that we also have the right to use the adjective 'Macedonian' just as they (in Greece) have the same right," said Christian Mitskoski from the podium of his country's Parliament, responding Thursday afternoon to a related question posed by the MP and leader of the nationalist opposition party "Left," Dimitar Apasiev, who referred to Mitskoski as "North Macedonian Prime Minister" and accused him of having previously been outspoken against the Prespa Agreement but now claiming that he "respects" it.

Mitskoski accused Dimitar Apasiev of signing every month as an MP of "North Macedonia" in order to receive his parliamentary compensation and noted that during the summers he goes on vacation to Halkidiki.

"I go to Halkidiki because I am middle class. Apasiev does not live from hydroelectric power plants like you do. Apasiev lives on a professor's salary," Apasiev retorted, who is a law professor at the state university in the city of Stip, North Macedonia, implying that the Prime Minister of the country, who is also a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Skopje (specializing in energy issues), exploits his position as a professor for personal gain.

The nationalist leftist party "Left" (Levica) saw its support soar in the last parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, which were held last May, reaching approximately 7%.