SKOPJEJE, Oct 21 (NNN-AGENCIES) — North Macedonia will hold an early election on April 12 next year, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said, two days after the European Union (EU) put a hold on the start of the country’s accession negotiations.
All leaders of the political parties have agreed with the election date and an interim government will be formed on Jan 3, he said after a Sunday meeting of all parties.
“We have reached a consensus and I believe that on April 12 the citizens will make a wise decision,” Zaev said after the meeting held in the presidential residence.
The election will be held eight months before the current Parliament’s four-year term is due to expire.
The meeting of the leaders of all political parties was organized by President of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski following the EU decision to put a hold on the start of the country’s accession negotiations on Friday.
Concerning the integration process, the president said, this meeting was fruitful, because all leaders of the parties agreed that there is no other alternative for the country.
“They all stand behind the idea that North Macedonia should begin the EU negotiations and finish them as soon as possible to become a full member,” Pendarovski said.
Zaev had asked for an early election, speaking of his “disappointment and outrage” on the EU’s failure to start membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
France, supported by Denmark and the Netherlands, strongly opposed membership talks, calling for an overhaul of the procedure to admit new members.
Zaev had staked his political future on an agreement with Greece, concluded in 2018, that changed the country’s name from Macedonia and settling a decades-long name dispute with its neighbor.
Greece considered that the name “Macedonia” was an attempt to steal its own Macedonian heritage and might imply territorial designs on its northern province of Macedonia. Included in the accord was a statement that the current state of Macedonia and the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia are unrelated.
The agreement was ratified despite heavy criticism by opposition parties and hardline nationalists in both countries.
As well as North Macedonia and Albania, four other countries — Bosnia, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia — also aspire to join the EU, but the enlargement process has largely stalled amid increased public concerns in western Europe about immigration and the strains of dealing with Britain’s exit from the bloc.
North Macedonia is expected to become the 30th member of NATO later this year or early in 2020, once its accession has been ratified by all member states of the U.S.-led alliance. — NNN-AGENCIES
