Roundup: Macedonian leaders reach compromise to solve political crisis

The four largest political parties in Macedonia on Friday came to a compromise on how to continue implementing an agreement signed in June to normalize the political situation in the country.

The parties agreed Oliver Spasovski would be the new minister for internal affairs, while Frosina Remenski would lead the ministry for labor and social policy in the transitional government that will lead the country until fresh elections in April 2016.

They were nominated by the opposition SDSM party.

During a press conference on Friday, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, leader of the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, said: "I am pleased with the agreement. Our strategic goal was to set the elections date in stone."

"We believe in the people, we know they will make the right decision, and that is the reason why we wanted to let them have their say as soon as possible," he added.

Meanwhile, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said this is a new start for Macedonia.

The opposition also appointed deputy-ministers in three ministries: finance, agriculture and information society and public administration. The new ministers and deputies will officially be appointed at the parliament session on Monday.

The conclusion of the agreement for appointing the new ministers in the government paves the way for restoring the political stability and security in Macedonia and for strengthening the European perspective of the country.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, is to publish the latest progress report for the country's compliance to European standards on Tuesday. The political situation in the country is expected to be one of the main points analyzed in the document.

The agreement on reforms for early elections has been seen as a necessary step in order to overcome the deep political crisis in Macedonia. Endit