PRIME Minister Alexis Tsipras defended his Macedonia deal today ahead of the confidence vote scheduled for parliament tomorrow after his coalition collapsed over the agreement.

Mr Tsipras claimed that ending the 27-year dispute over Macedonia’s name was a “great opportunity” despite the potential cost to his government.

The deal struck between the two nations will see Macedonia renamed to North Macedonia in return for Greece lifting its objections to its northern neighbour joining Nato. 

The imperialist alliance heavily backs the agreement as it aims to extend itself into the Balkans and limit Russian influence in the region.

“I am certain we are doing the right thing,” Mr Tsipras told parliament at the start of a two-day debate leading up to tomorrows vote.

Mr Tsipras is expected to narrowly survive the vote even though his Syriza party is six votes short of the 151 votes it needs in the 300-seat parliament after its right-wing junior partner, the Independent Greeks, left the coalition in protest at the deal.

Though all opposition parties will vote against the government, four lawmakers elected with the Independent Greeks have said they will vote against the party line. Mr Tsipras is also counting on the support of a right-wing and a centrist lawmaker.

Mr Tsipras also played up his government’s record in seeing out Greece’s troubled bailout era which saw the economy tank, unemployment soar and incomes shrink.

“I ask you to renew your confidence in this government that took the country out of the bailouts and the crisis, and can open up new favourable prospects for the Greek people,” he said.

If Mr Tsipras wins the vote, he proposes within days to seek parliamentary ratification of the agreement with Macedonia. He is also expected to win that vote, with the support of some opposition lawmakers.