North Macedonia Govt Survives Threat, Hints at Boosting Majority

After an opposition attempt to oust the government of Zoran Zaev failed on Thursday in North Macedonia's parliament, the main ruling Social Democrats, in another twist, said they now expect their wafer-thin majority to be boosted by more MPs.

The head of the Social Democratic parliamentary caucus, Jovan Mitreski, said late on Thursday that this boost would come from the same opposition bloc that just tried to supplant them in an abortive no-confidence vote.

Not revealing who might join the government ranks Mitreski said he expected "parties and MPs to confirm this and make their own announcements on Friday".

There is speculation that defectors could include the small ethnic Albanian Alternative party and all four of its MPs.

If this happens, the government majority would rise to 63 or possibly 64 out of 120 seats, depending on whether a BESA MP who foiled the no-confidence vote by pulling out at the last minute, will formally join the governing majority.

Last night, Alternative party leader Afrim Gashi fueled this speculation.

Oddly for a party that had just participated in a bid to topple the government, on TV he praised Zaev's government "for [achieving[ NATO membership and for [propelling] the European agenda",

Asked whether his party would now join the government, he said it would decide "after talking about this within the party and with our international partners".

Thursday's drama revealed equally matched forces between the opposition and the ruling parties in parliament, with each side counting on the support of exactly 60 MPs.

If this balance remains and the Social Democratic claims about a fresh boost do not materialise, Zaev's government could formally stay in office but be unable to pass...