North Macedonian Prime Minister Calls A Snap Election After Being Rejected For EU Membership

BBC: North Macedonia calls snap election after EU talks setback

North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has called snap elections following a decision by EU leaders to postpone opening membership talks with his country and neighbouring Albania.

French President Emanuel Macron blocked the bid at an EU summit in Brussels.

"We are the victims of the EU's historical mistake," said Mr Zaev.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker - and other European leaders - have used the same phrase to voice criticism of the summit outcome.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said: "It's not a failure, it's a mistake. I feel really embarrassed."

The Commission and the European Parliament had recommended starting talks with both countries.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: These are the countries blocking North Macedonia's entry into the EU that has precipitated this election .... EU Deadlocked over Accession Talks with Albania – France, Netherlands, Denmark Against (EXIT)

More News On The North Macedonian Prime Minister Calling A Snap Election

North Macedonian PM urges snap election after EU declines to launch accession talks -- Reuters
North Macedonia PM Calls For Snap Elections -- Radio Free Europe
North Macedonia Premier Calls for Snap Vote on EU Date Failure -- Bloomberg
North Macedonian prime minister calls for snap election after EU rebuff -- Politico
North Macedonia PM calls for snap elections after EU snub -- Al Jazeera

Presidential Candidates Vote In Polarized North Macedonia's Runoff

DW: North Macedonia votes in polarized presidential runoff

North Macedonian voters are choosing a new president in a poll that could make life more difficult for the ruling Social Democrats. The entire election will need to be rerun if not enough people turn out to vote.

Voters in North Macedonia returned to the ballot box on Sunday to vote in a presidential runoff election that focused on the name change deal with Greece.

The hotly contested vote pits Stevo Pendarovski, backed by the ruling Social Democrats, against his nationalist-backed rival Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova.

Casting his ballot on Sunday, Pendarovski urged people to vote for his concept of "moving forward for all citizens of Republic of North Macedonia, all ethnicities regardless of religion, nationality or political party."

His rival, Siljanovska-Davkova, said she would end the "political winter in Macedonia."

Read more ....

More News On Today's Presidential Election In North Macedonia

Polls Open in North Macedonia Presidential Poll Run-off -- Balkan Insight
North Macedonia holds presidential run-off election amid divisions over name change -- Reuters
North Macedonia goes to the polls amid rain and rancour -- The Guardian
Voters In North Macedonia Choosing President In Runoff Election -- VOA
North Macedonia, a country that changed its name -- France 24
A look at the 2 candidates for North Macedonia's presidency -- FOX News/AP