Macedonia's parliament

Macedonia's parliament is likely to postpone the local elections for the first half of October, and extend the mandates of the current mayors until then.

This was concluded after Monday's talks between the key political parties hosted by the new speaker of parliament, Talat Xhaferi.

The new speaker of Macedonia's parliament, Talat Xhaferi, on Thursday confirmed that he has sent a letter to President Gjorge Ivanov informing him that the Social Democrats command a majority in parliament - and so expect to be offered a mandate to form a government. The presidential cabinet has not yet confirmed receiving the notice.

After Macedonia's parliament canceled Friday's session due to damage caused by rioters, heavily equipped riot police were deployed in front of the building in anticipation of more protests on Friday afternoon.

Scores of people were injured as violence erupted in Macedonia's parliament after nationalist protesters stormed the building in anger over a vote for a new speaker, the interior ministry said April 28.

Violence broke out in Macedonia's Parliament on Thursday after an ethnic Albanian MP was elected speaker, sparking outrage from nationalists, CNN reported.

Violence erupted inside Macedonia's parliament on Thursday as protesters supporting the former ruling VMRO DPMNE party stormed the building, angry over the election of new parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi by the former opposition.

Former Swedish foreign minister Carl Bildt has urged respect for democracy and European values during a trip to Skopje today in an effort to push Macedonian politicians towards solving the country's ongoing tense political stalemate.

As the new opposition-led majority in Macedonia's parliament continues to press for the election of new speaker and a government, media outlets and organizations close to the former ruling VMRO DPMNE party have continued alarmist, threatening campaigns, calling on supporters to mobilise themselves.

A tete-a-tete between EU Council President Donald Tusk and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov in Skopje ended without a breakthrough after Tusk failed to persuade Ivanov to award a mandate for the formation of a new government to the opposition Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev.

Zaev and his coalition allies have mustered a majority in Macedonia's parliament.

Acting on the announced demand of the parties that form the new majority in Macedonia's parliament, the current provisional speaker, Trajko Veljanoski, is expected to schedule resumption of the constitutive session in the assembly in the next few days.