North Macedonia’s parliament has elected Dimitar Kovacevski as prime minister of a Social Democrat-led government after two months of political crisis.
The new coalition cabinet, composed of Kovacevski's Social Democrats and two ethnic Albanian parties as junior partners, won the January 16 vote 62-46 in the 120-seat legislature.
The center-right opposition VMRO-DPMNE party voted against, demanding early elections to give any government legitimacy.
Kovachevski, 47, was a deputy finance minister in the previous government of Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev.
Zaev resigned after his party’s poor performance in local elections last October.
Kovacevski says his government will focus on economic growth, addressing the country's energy crisis, and advancing North Macedonia’s bid for European Union membership.
In 2019, Macedonia added North to its official name, resolving a dispute with Greece that allowed the country to join NATO.
But neighboring Bulgaria has blocked the opening of EU accession negotiations due to a dispute over historical and language issues.
Bulgaria’s new Prime Minister Kiril Petkov is scheduled lead an official delegation to North Macedonia on January 18.
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
After Her Photo Went Viral, Maria Zaytsava Was Killed Fighting For Ukraine
2'Don't Underestimate Them': Ukrainian Troops Describe Capture Of North Korean POWs
3Who Is Ahmed Al-Awda, The Man Who Could Be A Threat To Syria's New Rulers?
4How Ukrainian Troops Blocked Russian Bid To Cross Dnieper River
5The Rich Ukrainian Who Gave Up His Yachts For Drones On The Front Line
6Russian Forces Tried To Stop Removal Of Captured North Korean Soldier From Battlefield
72 Iranian Supreme Court Judges Killed In Tehran
8Massive Russian Attack Targets Ukraine Energy Sites Amid Winter Freeze
9A Russian Airline Bomb Plot? What We Know About The Polish PM's Accusations
10U.S. Representative Who Backed Aid To Ukraine Removed From Committee Chairmanship
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.