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Macedonia's SDSM party kicks off talks for gov't formation

Xinhua, May 18, 2017 Adjust font size:

Macedonia will have its new government within ten days, head of the Social Democratic Union (SDSM) Zoran Zaev told reporters Thursday, one day after being mandated by President Gjorge Ivanov to form a government.

Zaev started talks with political parties early Thursday, saying that in order for the country to have a stable majority, it would be best if all three Albanian parties, BDI, Alliance for Albanians and Besa Movement were part of the coalition.

"First we will launch talks with BDI and then with BESA, and in the end, with the Alliance for Albanians. We're doing this to harmonize our stances," Zaev told media.

Macedonia hasn't had a new government formed since the Dec. 11 election.

President Ivanov had refused to mandate Zaev, arguing that his platform threatened the country's sovereignty.

But on Wednesday, he changed stance, saying that the obstacles in giving the mandate for the creation of the government had been overcome, so he mandated the SDSM leader to form the new government.

According to the president, Zaev has submitted all the necessary guarantees that the unitary character of the country will be preserved. Endit