A perfect storm: Macedonia’s political chaos and the refugee crisis

Macedonia has been experiencing a prolonged political crisis, with the country’s Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, resigning in January 2016 ahead of new elections intended to be held in April 2016. Dejan Marolov writes on the roots of the crisis and how the present standoff between the ruling party and the opposition has developed. He argues that resolving the political stalemate will be vital if Macedonia is to meet a number of key challenges it faces, such as the country’s location on one of the main routes for asylum seekers and migrants to travel into northern Europe.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Balkan countries fear becoming buffer zone for refugees http://www.europeansources.info/record/balkan-countries-fear-becoming-buffer-zone-for-refugees/

ESO: Background information: Macedonia urged to protect EU external borders http://www.europeansources.info/record/macedonia-urged-to-protect-eu-external-borders/

ESO: Background information: Choosing stability over reforms: Why Macedonia’s elections should be delayed http://www.europeansources.info/record/choosing-stability-over-reforms-why-macedonias-elections-should-be-delayed/

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