Displaying items by tag: VMRODPMNE

On 8 May, North Macedonia held parliamentary and presidential elections. If Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, from the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, wins the presidential election, that could complicate EU accession talks. These talks have been delayed, partly due to a dispute with Greece over the country's name, resolved in 2018 by adding the word 'North’. However, VMRO's leader Hristijan Mickoski refuses to recognise the new name. Bulgaria also opposes the talks until Skopje recognises a tiny Bulgarian minority in the country. If his party wins a majority, Mickoski will likely become prime minister. The elections are seen as critical for determining whether North Macedonia will progress toward the EU or revert to isolation and ethnic conflicts. Opinion polls predict a VMRO victory by a large margin, attributed to dissatisfaction with the current government's handling of economic issues. The country of 1.83 million joined NATO in 2020, but impatience over its slow progress towards EU membership has been growing.