Protesters demonstrating against a deal on Macedonia's name ratified in January clashed with police during Greece's Independence Day celebrations in Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon (March 25).

In the video, demonstrators can be seen trying to break through the police line to reach politicians during the Greek Independence Day parade.

According to the filmer, they shouted "traitors" and sang Greek national anthems as they confronted the police. A man pointing at politicians watching the parade is seen screaming: "They are not Greeks, realise it, they are Slavs".

After a decades-long dispute with its northern neighbour, the Greek Parliament narrowly passed a bill in January, approving Macedonia's name change from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, to distinguish it from the Greek territory with the same name.

Greece: Protesters demonstrating against the Macedonia name deal ratified in January, clashed with police during Greek Independence Day celebrations in Thessaloniki on Monday afternoon.

Protesters could be seen trying to break through the police line in an attempt to reach politicians in the Greek Independence Day parade. They shouted “traitors” and sang Greek national anthems as they clashed with police. A man pointing towards politicians watching the parade ceremony at 01:11 "They are not Greeks, realize it, they are Slavs!" Old man in traditional costume of Greek Macedonian Struggle fighter, at 01:31 "Curse them! They gone against the sacrifice and bloodshed of Greek Macedonia"

After a decades-long dispute with its northern neighbour, Greece’s Parliament narrowly passed a bill in January, approving Macedonia's name change from the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of North Macedonia, to distinguish it from the Greek territory with the same name.