The “Your Macedonia” coalition, led by the head of the VMRO-DPMNE party Hristijan Mickoski, emerged victorious in North Macedonia’s parliamentary election, winning just over 43% of the votes and 58 out of 120 parliamentary seats, three seats short of a majority. Mickoski is expected to seek a governing partnership with another party to form a government in the country. The election was held concurrently with a presidential runoff, resulting in the victory of law professor Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova as North Macedonia’s first female president, backed by the center-right opposition.
The Social Democrat-led coalition, which had been in power for the past seven years, struggled to retain second place in the parliamentary election, receiving just 15.3% of the vote and 18 seats in parliament. The ethnic Albanian minority party DUI won 19 seats, placing ahead of the Social Democrats. Another opposition ethnic Albanian coalition, led by the Worth party, earned 13 seats, while smaller parties like Levitsa and ZNAM won six seats each. The conservatives made significant gains in the election, capitalizing on public discontent over corruption, slow EU membership progress, and economic stagnation.
During his campaign, Mickoski criticized the outgoing government for ineptitude and compromising in settling disputes with neighboring countries. He vowed to prioritize fighting corruption in his government, promising accountability for those involved in criminal activities. Both political sides support EU integration, but differ on handling Bulgaria’s demands regarding the recognition of a Bulgarian ethnic minority in North Macedonia’s constitution. VMRO-DPMNE has rejected Bulgaria’s conditions, hinting at renegotiating membership talks and seeking assurances from the EU regarding Bulgaria’s demands for lifting its veto.
Outgoing President Kovachevski warned against deviation from the path towards the EU, emphasizing the potential consequences of missing the chance for accession. The new president, Siljanovska-Davkova, is set to be inaugurated by May 12, coinciding with the end of the current president’s mandate. The new parliament must be constituted within 20 days, and it is the president who will give the formal mandate to the parliamentary election’s winner to form a government. Negotiations between party leaders usually start informally before the official election results are announced.
The outcome of North Macedonia’s election has raised hopes for progress in the country’s EU integration efforts. Despite political differences on crucial issues like constitutional changes and neighboring relations, there is a collective aspiration for a brighter future for North Macedonia. As the new government takes shape, the country faces challenges and opportunities in areas like corruption, economic growth, and EU negotiations. The coming days will be crucial in determining the direction of North Macedonia’s politics and its journey towards European integration.
