Why did Greece's parliament approve the Prespa Agreement despite public protests?

The Greek parliament approved the Prespa Agreement on January 25, 2019, by a vote of 153–146, despite widespread public opposition and protests.1

The primary motivation for the government, led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, was to resolve a long-standing diplomatic dispute regarding the name of the neighboring state, North Macedonia. By ratifying the agreement, Greece removed its long-standing objection to the country's membership in NATO, which was a key strategic goal for the administration.12

The passage of the agreement was politically precarious. After the junior coalition partner, the Independent Greeks, withdrew their support and resigned from the government, Tsipras lost his parliamentary majority. He successfully navigated this crisis by winning a vote of confidence on January 16, 2019, with the support of independent MPs, which allowed him to proceed with the ratification vote despite the intense domestic backlash and the opposition of the New Democracy party.1