New Government in North Macedonia: What it Means for the Country’s Foreign Relations and Domestic Policies

In North Macedonia, opposition candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova has been elected as the next president. The ruling SDSM party has accepted defeat in both the second round of the presidential election and the parliamentary election. The leader of the center-left SDSM congratulated the right-wing main opposition party on its victory.

It appears that Christian Mickoski, a right-wing leader, will become prime minister, while the more ceremonial post of president will go to Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who is a lawyer and professor by background. This election marks a shift in power from the left to the right in North Macedonia’s politics.

The new government is likely to take a different approach to Bulgaria, Greece, and the Albanian minority compared to the current administration. The right-wing party VMRO-DPMNE, which is coming to power, is opposed to the concessions that Bulgaria has demanded before North Macedonia would start EU membership talks. In his speeches, Mickoski has also criticized Greece and the country’s own Albanian minority.

The election results in North Macedonia have implications for the country’s foreign relations and domestic policies. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact North Macedonia’s path towards EU membership and its relationships with neighboring countries. Some analysts predict that this shift in power may lead to tensions with Bulgaria and Greece over territorial issues.

The new government’s stance on EU membership could also have consequences for North Macedonia’s relations with other countries in Europe. If they continue down this path of opposing concessions demanded by Bulgaria, it could lead to further isolation from European institutions.

Despite these challenges, there are also opportunities for cooperation between North Macedonia and neighboring countries. The incoming government could work towards finding common ground with Bulgaria and Greece on key issues like regional stability and economic development.

Overall, this election marks a significant moment in North Macedonia’s politics and its relationship with neighboring countries. It will be interesting to see how this new government approaches these issues moving forward.