Thewesternbalkans
President of North Macedonia Gordana Siljanovska Davkova on June 6 gave Hristijan Mickoski, leader of the VMRO-DPMNE, the party that won the parliamentary and presidential elections on May 8, the mandate to form a new government.
During his speech, Mickoski announced that the new government will focus on implementing reforms in several sectors, primarily healthcare, education, the rule of law, and foreign affairs, adding that it will also raise pensions and invest in infrastructure and energy.
Mickoski has 20 days to form a government, but he hopes to do so much faster and the date will be in accordance with the upcoming religious holidays, as well as the “birthday of VMRO-DPMNE” June 17.
Comment: Before the government can be voted with 61 votes needed, the challenge for Mickoski will be to secure a two-thirds majority (80 votes) in the Assembly, which will be necessary for the restructuring of the government and a number of other reform laws proposed by the VMRO – DPMNE.
After weeks of negotiations, Mickoski announced an initial coalition government deal with the ethnic Albanian coalition VLEN, which has 14 lawmakers and the new party ZNAM, which has six.
