The parliament in North Macedonia approved the new government led by Zoran Zaev with 62 votes in favor and 51 against.
In his speech in parliament on Sunday, Zaev promised to improve the lives of all citizens, and asked for opposition’s cooperation for strategic national issues. He had earlier stated that the government will focus on fighting the coronavirus, crime and corruption, improving the economy, strengthening the justice system, and vetting officials.
Zaev’s Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Albanian party Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) reached an agreement to form the new Macedonian government following general elections on July 15. SDSM got 45 MPs, BDI got 15 MPs in the 120-seat parliament. The Democratic Party of Albanians also joined the coalition with their only MP.
The BDI will appoint a prime minister for the last 100 days of the 4-year term. It is stipulated in the constitution that a caretaker government during this period prepares the country for new elections.
Talat Xhaferi of the BDI was reelected speaker of parliament earlier.
The Macedonian opposition comprises VMRO-DPMNE (44 seats), Alliance for Albanians (12), and Levica (2).
The new government is composed of the prime minister, 4 deputies, and 13 ministers:
Prime Minister - Zoran Zaev First Deputy Prime Minister - Artan Grubi Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs - Nikola Dimitrov Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs - Fatmir Bytyqi Deputy Prime Minister for Fight against Corruption - Ljupco Nikolovski Minister of Internal Affairs - Oliver Spasovki Minister of Defense - Radmila Sekerinska Minister of Finance - Fatmir Besimi Minister of Economy - Kreshnik Bekteshi Minister of Transport and Communications - Blagoj Bochvarski Minister of Affairs of Foreign Affairs - Bujar Osmani Minister of Justice - Bojan Maricic Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning - Naser Nuredini Minister of Education and Science - Mila Carovska Minister of Labor and Social Policy - Jagoda Shahparska Minister of Agriculture - Arijan Hoxha Minister of Culture - Irena Stef Minister of Local Self-Government - Goran Milevski
