Macedonian Opposition Mulls Return to Streets

After Macedonia's ruling parties on Monday unilaterally elected a new interim government in parliament, paving the way for early elections in April 24, the leader of the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, Zoran Zaev on Tuesday said his party was yet to decide on its response.

"Regarding the participation [of ministers from opposition ranks as agreed in the summer crisis agreement] in the government and about all of our next moves, the party boards and committees will reach their decisions in the next few days," Zaev told the media.

Senior party members have already hinted at the possibility of more protests like those held in the first half of last year.

"See you at the barricades," tweeted the SDSM vice-president, Damjan Mancevski.

The ruling majority in parliament on Monday verified the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, voted to dissolve parliament and elected a new government led by VMRO DPMNE secretary general Emil Dimitriev, paving the way for elections on April 24.

Under the EU-brokered deal, opposition figures were due to be appointed to posts in the interim cabinet, but, due to an announced opposition boycott, the participation of opposition ministers in government remains uncertain.

The two interim ministers appointed from opposition ranks, Interior Minister Oliver Spasov and Labour Minister Frosina Remenski, remained silent on Tuesday.

They were included in the newly elected government on Monday but were not in parliament to swear their oath of office.

Under the terms of the crisis deal reached last summer, the opposition should also have three more deputy ministers whose participation is now also questionable.

Meanwhile, the ruling party briefed on Tuesday that if...