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Macedonia's former PM and VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski. File photo, EPA/BGNES
VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski has been given a mandate to form the next government of Macedonia, state-run MIA news agency reports.
Gruevski's conservative party, leading a coalition in the snap parliamentary election in December, got the biggest number of votes, but won the poll only by a small margin.
Conservatives may be facing a tough task while trying to form a stable majority.
VMRO-DPMNE now has only 51 lawmakers, two more seats in Macedonia's Parliament than left-wing SDSM.
The Democratic Union of Albanians (DUI) of Ali Ahmeti remains the biggest ethnic Albanian party in the new legislature, with 10 seats, the other three parties - Besa, the Alliance of Albanians, and DPA - having a total of ten seats.
Gruevski will now have a 20-day deadline to form a coalition.
All four Albanian parties but DPA announced last week a joint platform they would offer during the coalition negotiations.
Their program includes the introduction of Albanian as an official language, economic equality, inclusion of Albanians in the workgroup on the name dispute with Greece, and a swift integration of Macedonia into the EU and NATO.
Bulgaria has expressed its readiness to assist in the recovery efforts of the victims of the tragic fire in Kocani, North Macedonia
On Tuesday, March 18, Bulgaria will observe a day of national mourning in response to the tragic fire in a nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia
Fourteen victims of the devastating fire at a disco in Kocani, North Macedonia, have been transported to Bulgaria for medical treatment
A seven-day period of mourning has been declared in North Macedonia in memory of the victims of the tragic fire that broke out at the Pulse disco in Kocani
Bulgaria has mobilized to assist those affected by the tragic fire at a disco in Kocani, North Macedonia
Bulgaria has extended its support to the Republic of North Macedonia in response to the tragic fire at a disco in Kochani
Serbia has expressed concerns over the growing military cooperation between Kosovo, Albania, and Croatia
A seven-day period of mourning has been declared in North Macedonia in memory of the victims of the tragic fire that broke out at the Pulse disco in Kocani
Bulgaria has mobilized to assist those affected by the tragic fire at a disco in Kocani, North Macedonia
Bulgaria has extended its support to the Republic of North Macedonia in response to the tragic fire at a disco in Kochani
A devastating fire broke out early on March 16 at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, during a concert, leaving at least 50 people dead and over 100 others injured
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