ATHENS, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Sunday he will seek a confidence vote in his government in the parliament after the junior party's departure from the ruling coalition.

The Independent Greeks (ANEL) party is quitting the government over the Macedonia name deal, Greek Defense Minister and ANEL leader Panos Kammenos said earlier Sunday.

The prime minister said that he has accepted Kammenos' resignation and will accept any other resignations submitted by ministers belonging to the ANEL, adding 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.

Kammenos did not clarify whether the right-wing party will continue to support the left-wing SYRIZA party in parliament.

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.