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Macedonia to have SDSM-led gov't in 2 weeks: report

Xinhua, February 24, 2017 Adjust font size:

The leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Zoran Zaev, told reporters on Thursday that his party had secured signatures from a majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) so it was ready to get a mandate to form a government.

He made the statement after meeting with the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), the party which represents ethnic Albanians in Macedonia.

Zaev said that only a few minor issues remained to be discussed with DUI over the government formation, which should happen in 10 to 15 days, local media reported.

The most significant issues, such as the future government program, the platform of the social democrats, the platform of the Albanian political parties, and the law on use of languages have been harmonized, Zaev told reporters.

According to him, working groups needed to complete the final details so that there were no legal gaps to be contested at the Constitutional Court.

On the other hand, spokesman of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Bujar Osmani, told media on Thursday afternoon that the fact DUI and SDSM had reached an agreement on the usage of Albanian language didn't equal support for forming a government.

Zaev's SDSM won 49 seats but it takes 61 seats to form a new government. Therefore, SDSM entered talks with DUI which won 10 seats in parliament.

SDSM and DUI are expected to hold another meeting on Friday to iron out their positions for the creation of the new government.

If they finally agree, Zaev is expected to ask President Ivanov for a mandate for the creation of the government.

Macedonia held snap general elections on Dec. 11, 2016. Endit