Dimitar Kovacevski, the new leader of North Macedonia’s ruling Socialists, said that his party had confirmed him as the country’s prime minister-designate following Zoran Zaev’s formal resignation as premier, write euractiv.com
Kovacevski said on his Facebook page that the central committee of his ruling SDSM party had endorsed him as prime minister-designate. In that capacity, he met a U.S. ambassador in North Macedonia.
“As the SDSM president and new prime minister-designate, I will be led exclusively by principles of unity, responsibility, dedication and efficiency,” Kovacevski said after the meeting.
The country’s future government faces challenges ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to an energy crisis caused by a lack of domestic electricity production and price hikes across Europe.
Under the constitution, Kovacevski should form a new cabinet backing 64 deputies in the 120-seat parliament within 20 days. Parliamentary Speaker Talat Xhaferi said that a vote for a new government would be probably scheduled for Jan. 15 or 16, local media reported.
North Macedonia, which joined NATO last year, strives to become part of the European Union. Its accession path is currently linked to that of Albania. While there appears to be a consensus between EU member states, for North Macedonia, a Bulgarian veto blocks their path.
