On Sunday evening, the North Macedonian parliament officially confirmed Hristijan Mickoski as the new Prime Minister, representing the national conservative VMRO-DPMNE party. With 78 seats in the 120-seat parliament, the new government has a stable majority, ensuring effective governance.
During the swearing-in ceremony in Skopje, the new Prime Minister officially used the state name North Macedonia, in line with the Prespa Agreement reached in 2018 to end the long-standing name dispute with Greece. The agreement led to the country changing its name from Macedonia to North Macedonia. Despite this, the Prime Minister stated in parliament that his government does not plan to amend the constitution to include the small Bulgarian minority, a requirement for the start of accession talks with the European Union.
After winning the election in early May, the VMRO-DPMNE party is returning to power after eight years, with the Social Democrats (SDSM) moving into the opposition. In his program speech, Mickoski emphasized his government’s focus on economic development, fighting corruption, and upholding the rule of law. He also pledged to maintain partnership relations with the European Union, align foreign policy with that of the EU, support Ukraine, and maintain good relations with neighboring countries.