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Monday, October 1, 2018

Poor turnout in Macedonia referendum dims drive for national name change

SKOPJE, Macedonia — A referendum on changing Macedonia’s name as part of a deal that would pave the way for NATO membership won overwhelming support Sunday, but low voter turnout highlighted the hurdles that still remain for the Balkan country to join the alliance. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev had hoped for a strong show of support in the referendum on whether to accept a June deal with Greece changing the country’s name to North Macedonia. That would help him with the next step of winning parliamentary support for the required constitutional amendments. Results from more than 97 percent of polling stations showed 91.3 percent of voters approving the deal. But turnout stood at just 36.


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