Despite voting Macedonians overwhelming opting to change their country’s name to North Macedonia, preliminary results show just over a third of citizens voted in the referendum, with 50 percent needed.
Citizens of the country – recognised officially by the United Nations as the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia – were asked to vote in a bid to end a long-running naming dispute with neighbours Greece.
Athens has agreed to end its opposition to Macedonia’s bids to join NATO and the EU if they successfully change its name.
The dispute revolves around the naming of Macedonia, which is identical to Greek region of Macedonia and reject what they see as the Macedonians’ appropriation of Hellenistic culture and historical figures such as Alexander the Great.
According to early counts, opposition boycotts, led by a number of nationalists, have been successful in restricting voter turnout to 36 percent, ensuring the ballot is non-binding.
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will now have to seek permission from parliament to change the constitution and has threatened to call early elections if it did not support the proposal.
As polls close on Sunday, he said: “If, as we all expect, we truly have a big visible, tangible majority for [voting in favour], out of those who voted, then the future is clear.
“The vote of the MPs in parliament must resolutely be a vote for a responsible acceleration of the processes towards Nato and the European Union.”
Opposition supporters gathered outside the parliament in the capital Skopje to celebrate the lower-than-expected turnout figures.
After the vote, Mr Zaev called on MPs to support the ‘Yes’ vote submitted by 91 percent of the country’s voting electorate.
He said: “The people made a great choice and said ‘yes’ to our future. It is time for lawmakers to follow the voice of the people and to provide support.
“There will be no better agreement with Greece, nor an alternative for NATO and the EU.”
Opponents say Macedonia has been bullied by Greece and the EU, pointing to the fact that top European politicians urged the voters to back the change.
President Gjorge Ivanov was amongst the boycotting masses, describing the proposed deal as “historical suicide”.
The leader of the main opposition party, Hristijan Mickoski, said the deal “will humiliate Macedonia”.
Despite the low turnout, EU bosses are confident accession talks will happen as political leaders carry out the will of the people.
Enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “I now expect all political leaders to respect this decision and take it forward with utmost responsibility and unity across party lines, in the interest of the country.”
US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement: “The United States strongly supports the agreement’s full implementation, which will allow Macedonia to take its rightful place in NATO and the EU, contributing to regional stability, security, and prosperity.”
She praised the vote as a a bid to “rise above partisan politics and seize this historic opportunity to secure a brighter future for the country as a full participant in Western institutions”.
Express.co.uk understands NATO has been closely watching for signs of Russian interference throughout the referendum campaigns.
There were a number of fears that figures acting on behalf of the Kremlin were assisting opposition movements in a bid to halt Macedonia moving closer to the West.
One official revealed NATO had ensured a number of high-profile visits to Macedonia to “demonstrate the credibility that if there is a ‘yes’ vote this is the only route into NATO, to counter Russian voices saying otherwise”.