Coalition on the back foot

The political backlash stemming from the name deal with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) coupled with lagging poll numbers has put the ruling coalition on the back foot, forcing it to re-examine its strategy.

The pressure on the coalition intensified last week after its parliamentary majority shrank even further to 152 (out of 300 seats) with the departure of lawmaker Giorgos Lazaridis of junior partner Independent Greeks (ANEL), in protest at the name deal.

His departure followed the expulsion from ANEL of prominent MP Dimitris Kammenos, who refused to back the coalition in a confidence vote over the name deal signed by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his FYROM counterpart Zoran Zaev on the shore of Lake Prespa a fortnight ago.

Lazaridis's decision came as a shock to the government, which was riding high after the confidence motion submitted by...