Macedonia's parliament

North Macedonia's parliament on Sunday approved a caretaker government with a mandate to organize a general election in May.

The government of the small Balkan country of 1.8 million people will be headed by the country's first-ever ethnic Albanian prime minister, current parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi, 61.

Another evening of protests in Skopje against the French proposal to start negotiations for the Republic of North Macedonia for membership in the European Union. Tensions rose after about 30 hooded demonstrators began throwing bombs and hard objects at the parliament building and police officers. 47 police officers were injured and 11 protesters were detained.

North Macedonia's parliament has adopted a resolution which draws so-called "red lines" in talks with Bulgaria on the Macedonian identity and language.

Initially filed in early July by the main opposition right wing VMRO DPMNE party, it was supported by 95 out of the 96 MPs present in the 120-seat parliament, with only one abstaining.

North Macedonia's parliament was dissolved on Sunday, ahead of an early election.

The April 12 election is taking place eight months before the normal expiration of the parliament's four-year term.

The speaker of Macedonia's parliament on Friday set April 21 as the date for presidential elections, reported Reuters. 

"I'm convinced that all involved in the electoral process will give their contribution so the elections can be conducted in a fair and democratic atmosphere," Talat Xhaferi said after announcing the date.

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's Parliament has ratified the Prespes accord and incorporated the key provisions in the country's constitution.

Moscow on Monday criticized a deal to resolve the name dispute between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as a western plot to draw the Balkan country into the NATO security alliance.

Macedonia's parliament has approved a constitutional amendment to change the country's name to the Republic of North Macedonia, reports BBC News. 

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev narrowly secured the two-thirds majority needed in the historic vote amid a boycott by opposition nationalists.

Protesters outside parliament denounced what they called an act of treason.

Macedonia's parliament backed all four of the government-proposed amendments on changing the country's constitution on Friday night, allowing the country's name to be changed to the Republic of North Macedonia.

All present 81 MPs from the ruling parties and from several opposition parties backed the amendments, securing the much needed two-thirds majority.

With the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia's Parliament set to vote on the name deal with Greece on October 16, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg repeated on Monday that without its ratification, the Balkan nation will not be able to join the alliance.