North Macedonia: Manoeuvres in election times

NORTH MACEDONIA: MANOEUVRES IN ELECTION TIMES 

 Kostadin Filipov 

(Abstract) 

The article analyzes the current political situation in the Republic of North Macedonia on the eve of the early parliamentary elections on 12 April. It emphasizes the role of the so-called “leadersʼ meetings” of the heads of parliamentary parties, which meetings, without being enshrined in the constitution of the country, play a significant role in its governance. It also emphasizes the role of the international factor, with the help of which the so-called “Przino agreement” was drafted and adopted, the treaty that defines the conditions and rules of action of caretaker governments in the country. It also looks into the challenges facing the authorities in Skopje with regard to membership of North Macedonia in NATO, the start of EU membership talks, and the consequences of the expected loss of pace of reforms in the country.