Gov't, ND clash over PM's remarks on Prespes protesters

A vehement clash broke out on Wednesday between the leftist government and the conservative opposition over comments by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, captured on camera during a private conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron, about "extreme-right populists" in protests against the Prespes deal. 

The conversation between Tsipras and Macron, which took place on the sidelines of the fifth MED-7 Summit of Mediterranean leaders in Nicosia on Tuesday, was aired by ANT1 TV.

In it, Tsipras can be heard telling Macron, while Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades looks on, "It was tough," in reference to the protest against the Prespes deal on the Sunday before the agreement was ratified.

Asked by Macron about turnout, he said it was around 70,000, saying it involved "extreme-right populists against the agreement." Responding to another question by the French...