North Macedonia’s ruling party accepts prime minister’s leadership resignation

After resigning as leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) following a crushing local election defeat, the party has accepted Prime Minister Zoran Zaev’s resignation.

Following hours of negotiations and discussions, SDSM members voted to accept Zaev’s resignation and start procedures to select his successor. An election will take place within the party on 12 December to replace him.

For now, he will remain prime minister, having tabled his resignation and then rescinded it earlier this month. He said he would stay on as prime minister for a bit longer to ensure stability. Meanwhile, a no-confidence vote brought by the opposition failed as less than half of MPs turned up.

The SDSM is facing more uncertainty after a split from Besa, their ethnic Albanian coalition partner who has reportedly joined forces with the opposition VMRO-DPMNE.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al/en)