VMRO-DPMNE

There was nothing unexpected about the referendum. It was clear that the government in Skopje would struggle to reach the 50 percent threshold to make the plebiscite. Also certain was that the yes vote would be in a strong lead.

The result of the referendum in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will be disputed by the country's opposition, especially the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE, as participation was significantly lower than 50 percent of the approximately 1.8 million registered voters.

On Sunday, voters in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia are expected to endorse the agreement signed with Greece last June. Although participation in the referendum might come to less than half of the registered voters, the government of Zoran Zaev will press ahead with the necessary constitutional amendment mandated by the agreement.

Ahead of Sunday's crucial referendum on changing the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), the country's political leadership gave conflicting messages to its citizens Thursday, with President Gjorge Ivanov calling for a boycott and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev urging people to get out and vote.

The conservative opposition leader in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) indicated a subtle shift in his stance towards the Prespes Agreement achieved with Greece, based on comments made in a show on broadcaster TV21.

The conservative opposition leader in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) indicated a subtle shift in his stance towards the Prespes Agreement achieved with Greece, based on comments made in a show on broadcaster TV21.

Macedonia's main opposition VMRO DPMNE party is in a dilemma over whether to tap into the 1.3 million euros that parliament has set aside for campaigning for the September 30 "name" referendum. It has until the end of Monday to officially make up its mind.

The Council of Europe's anti-corruption group says the performance of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on preventing corruption is "clearly disappointing," and is calling on authorities to take action.

The referendum also concerns confirming an agreement reached between Skopje and Athens to rename the former Yugoslav Republic into "the Republic of North Macedonia."

Macedonia's parliament on Monday set September 30 as the date for a referendum on changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia, a high-stakes vote aimed at resolving a long-running row with Greece and clearing the path to join NATO and the EU.