ATHENS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- The Independent Greeks (ANEL), the junior partner in the ruling two-partite coalition until Sunday, will vote against in the forthcoming confidence vote to the government of Alexis Tsipras, its party leader said.

"If ANEL will give a confidence vote, it will be like voting in favor of the agreement," Panos Kammenos, outgoing Defense Minister and ANEL party leader, told a press conference on Sunday after announcing his resignation from the post and his Right-wing party's withdrawal from the government.

An indirect vote in favor of the deal clinched this summer on the Macedonia name issue was not an option for ANEL, he explained, because this was the sole reason the party is quitting the Left-led coalition after four years.

In addition, Kammenos called for a referendum on the agreement, noting that 80 percent of Greek citizens, according to opinion polls, are still opposing the deal which puts an end to a long- standing dispute over the use of the name Macedonia.

Shortly earlier, following a meeting with Kammenos at his office, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced that he will seek a confidence vote to his government in the parliament.

"We will proceed quickly to the process foreseen by the Greek Constitution and the rules of the parliament regarding the renewal of confidence of the assembly to my government," he told Greek national broadcaster ERT and other media outside his office.

He also announced that Kammenos will be replaced by Admiral Evangelos Apostolakis, Chief of the Hellenic National Defense General Staff.

Kammenos had repeatedly said in recent months that his party would not vote for the Macedonia name deal, which was due to reach the Greek assembly for a vote later this month.

The Macedonian parliament, in an initial vote, on Friday passed an amendment to the constitution, paving the way to changing the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia.

Macedonia is also the name of a northern province in Greece. Athens is worried that the use of the same name by the neighboring state could lead to territorial claims. Enditem

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