Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

North Macedonia coalition blocks no confidence vote in parliament

North Macedonia coalition blocks no confidence vote in parliament

The parliament of North Macedonia was due to meet on Thursday to vote on a motion of no confidence in the government.
The ruling coalition in North Macedonia has blocked a parliament vote on a motion of no confidence in the government.

Just 60 MPs attended the vote on Thursday, one short of the quorum needed to hold the vote.

The motion was tabled by the opposition in the wake of the left-wing government’s defeat in the municipal elections.

The main opposition party, the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE, had presented signatures of 61 MPs supporting its initiative, out of the 120 MPs in the parliament.

But an MP from the Besa small party representing the Albanian community failed to show up in parliament, stating on Facebook that he had changed his mind.

The opposition now has until midnight to try to reach the quorum, or the session will be postponed.

The political turmoil comes as the small country of two million people faces a resurgent COVID-19 epidemic and an energy crisis.

After his SDSM party lost the municipal elections in October, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced his resignation but suggested that the same majority would form a new cabinet.

The current majority includes the SDSM and the main Albanian community party (DUI).

But VMRO-DPMNE president Hristijan Mickoski says he has built a new majority, with the support of several other small Albanian groups, which make up a quarter of the population.

Zoran Zaev, whose popularity was already falling due to little progress in the country's march towards the European Union, never formally submitted his resignation to parliament and even seems to have changed his mind.

His party's executive committee decided on Tuesday that his resignation would be "postponed" indefinitely, "to ensure the stability and European perspective" of the country.

"I sincerely hope that the democratic parliamentary majority will be stabilised," Zaev said.

If his government does not survive the no-confidence motion, the opposition will have the opportunity to form a new government. If this then fails, early elections must be held.

"I will try to form a new government, seriously credible and effective in managing crises and fighting crime and corruption," said Mickoski.

Zaev, who has led the country since 2017, struck a difficult deal with Athens in 2018 to change his country's name to North Macedonia to unblock rapprochement with the European bloc.

Greece, which has a province with the same name, considered that its neighbour's use of the name was a usurpation of its heritage.

The agreement allowed North Macedonia to join Nato in March 2020, but EU accession negotiations never started, despite a formal go-ahead.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Hungary Ranked Among the World’s Safest Travel Destinations for 2025
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Man Convicted of Fraud After Booking Over 120 Free Flights Posing as Flight Attendant
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Beata Thunberg Rebrands as Beata Ernman Amidst Sister's Activism Controversy
Hungarian Parliament Approves Citizenship Suspension Law
Prime Minister Orbán Criticizes EU's Ukraine Accession Plans
Hungarian Delicacies Introduced to Japanese Market
Hungary's Industrial Output Rises Amid Battery Sector Slump
President Sulyok Celebrates 15 Years of Hungarian Unity Efforts
Hungary's Szeleczki Shines at World Judo Championships
Visegrád Construction Trends Diverge as Hungary Lags
Hungary Hosts National Quantum Technology Workshop
Hungarian Animation Featured at Annecy Festival
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
UK and EU Reach New Economic Agreement
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
UK and EU Reach Agreement on Gibraltar's Schengen Integration
Israeli Finance Minister Imposes Banking Penalties on Palestinians
U.S. Inflation Rises to 2.4% in May Amid Trade Tensions
Trump's Policies Prompt Decline in Chinese Student Enrollment in U.S.
Global Oceans Near Record Temperatures as CO₂ Levels Climb
Trump Announces U.S.-China Trade Deal Covering Rare Earths
Smuggled U.S. Fuel Funds Mexican Cartels Amid Crackdown
Austrian School Shooting Leaves Nine Dead in Graz
Bezos's Lavish Venice Wedding Sparks Local Protests
Europe Prepares for Historic Lunar Rover Landing
Italian Parents Seek Therapy Amid Lengthy School Holidays
British Fishing Vessel Seized by France Fined €30,000
Dutch Government Collapses Amid Migration Policy Dispute
UK Commits to 3.5% GDP Defence Spending Under NATO Pressure
Germany Moves to Expedite Migrant Deportations
US Urges UK to Raise Defence Spending to 5% of GDP
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Low Turnout Jeopardizes Italy's Citizenship Reform Referendum
Transatlantic Interest Rate Divergence Widens as Trump Pressures Powell
EU Lawmaker Calls for Broader Exemptions in Supply Chain Legislation
France's Defense Spending Plans Threatened by High National Debt
European Small-Cap Stocks Outperform U.S. Rivals Amid Growth Revival
Switzerland Proposes $26 Billion Capital Increase for UBS
×