Crisis drags on as Macedonia fails to form government

FYR Macedonia's president resumed on 30 January 2017 the search for a new prime minister after the former premier failed to form a government, despite his party’s narrow election victory.

The country's parliament informed the president that the VMRO-DPMNE party had failed to form a government within the 20-day deadline. Media sources indicated that consultations would restart.

The parliamentary election of December 2016 was held as part of a EU-brokered deal between Macedonia's four main political parties aimed at ending a long-running political crisis. The neck-and-neck results meant that ethnic Albanian parties emerged as kingmakers.

ESO: Background information: The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in a state of uncertainty http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia-in-a-state-of-uncertainty/

Reuters, 30.01.17: Macedonia's Social Democrats seek mandate to form government http://www.reuters.com/article/us-macedonia-politics-idUSKBN15E0QM

Deutsche Welle, 30.01.17: Macedonia's political crisis continues as conservatives fail to form coalition http://dw.com/p/2Wc8a

Balkan Insight, 30.01.17: Macedonia's Gruevski Fails to Form New Govt http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-s-gruevski-fails-to-form-new-govt--01-30-2017

Balkan Insight, 31.01.17: Macedonia Opposition Fears President May Withhold Mandate http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-s-president-in-spotlight-over-govt-stalemate-01-30-2017

Novinite, 31.01.17: Gruevski Unable Form Govt, Macedonia Parliament Says http://www.novinite.com/articles/178634/Gruevski+Unable+Form+Govt,+Macedonia+Parliament+Says

EurActiv, 10.02.17: EU tells Macedonian politicians to drag country out of crisis http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/eu-tells-macedonian-politicians-to-drag-country-out-of-crisis/

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