Afrim Gashi

This was announced by the spokesperson of SDSM Bogdana Kuzevska and specified that the procedure for election of a new chairman of SDSM starts immediately. This will happen on December 12. Candidates for Zaev's post have 7 days to run. The leader of SDSM is elected by direct vote of all members of SDSM.

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 coalition will be joined by two MPs of the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, and three MPs aligned with a faction of the BESA party led by Afrim Gashi, BIRN reported.

The ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, is already in the government.

Talks aimed at broadening support in parliament for Zoran Zaev's fragile government in Macedonia have entered their final phase, and the outcome should be known within the next few days or next week.

Up to ten MPs from smaller ethnic Albanian parties could soon boost the government's narrow majority in parliament, but settling their petty feuds so that they can all join his administration poses a challenge for Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.