SKOPJE -- North Macedonia Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has resigned, as expected, paving the way for a technocrat government to be formed to organize fresh elections in the Balkan nation.
The move on January 3, which was immediately accepted by lawmakers, was prompted after Zaev asked parliament in October to hold an early vote following what he called the European Union's "disappointing" decision last year to hold off on starting membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania.
Oliver Spasovski, the interior minister in Zaev's outgoing government, will serve as prime minister of the caretaker administration that is expected to be voted into power by lawmakers later in the day.
Zaev's Social Democrat-led government took office in 2017 with the key policy goal of accession talks with the EU.
Croatia, which holds the EU presidency for the next six months, pledged on January 2 to work to restart the membership talks with Albania and North Macedonia .
France and the Netherlands halted the opening of membership talks with North Macedonia and Albania last year, sparking disappointment and concern in the Western Balkans as Russia and China vie for influence in the volatile region.
The elections in North Macedonia will be held on April 12.
North Macedonia PM Resigns To Allow Technocrat Cabinet To Prepare April Elections
Editors' Picks
Top Trending
1
In Russia's War Economy, The Warning Lights Are Blinking
2Attack From Afghanistan Kills Chinese National In Tajikistan, Sources Say
3RFE/RL Reveals Chilling New Details Of Bucha Massacre As Ukraine Marks 1,000 Days Of War
4Putin Says Russia Fired New Intermediate Missile At Ukraine After ICBM Accusations
5Could U.S. Long-Range Missiles Tip The Balance In The Ukraine War?
6Wider Europe Briefing: Georgia's Vanishing EU Dreams
7No Smooth Sailing For Climate Activist Greta Thunberg In The Caucasus
8Steps Too Far As Moscow, Washington Cross 'Red Lines' Over Ukraine?
9U.S. Reportedly Allows Ukraine To Strike Russia With Long-Range Weapons
10Ukraine Live Briefing: Verkhovna Rada Closes Over Strike Fears
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.
