Spyros Danellis

Six Greek independent lawmakers who backed the government in a confidence vote on January 16 told Parliament President Nikos Voutsis they will approve any future legislation submitted by ruling SYRIZA, thus ensuring its majority in Parliament.

A vote on the Prespes name deal is expected to take place in Greece's Parliament on Thursday night with debate to start at committee level on Monday afternoon before moving to the plenary, House speaker Nikos Voutsis said Monday.

In a sharply-worded statement, centrist Potami hit out at MP Giorgos Amyras who announced his departure from the party earlier on Monday.

By leaving the party shortly before the launch of debate on the Prespes name deal, Amyras has "chosen to join the rightwing pantheon as the MP who destroyed Potami's parliamentary group," Potami said in a statement.

Greek Police's security division has identified more than 30 people who have allegedly sent threatening messages to lawmakers who want to support the Prespes name deal, according to the preliminary investigation ordered by a prosecutor this week, state-run news agency ANA-MPA reported.

Spyros Danellis, a former lawmaker of centrist To Potami, defended his decision to support the government in a no-confidence vote that will be held late on Wednesday, saying it does not mean he is joining ruling SYRIZA.

Former conservative foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis suggested Wednesday that the government was offering incentives to non-SYRIZA lawmakers for their support in the vote of confidence.

Centrist Potami lawmaker Spyros Danellis, who announced on Monday he will support the government in a confidence motion called by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, will be expelled from the party, its spokesman said on Tuesday.

After the hype of the last few days, that brought into question the prospects of the present government continuing in power, as well as the ratification of the Prespes agreement by Athens, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his coalition partner Panos Kammenos, have in essence agreed to a mutually convenient path which will not threaten either.