Republic of Macedonia

Campaigning is halting in Macedonia ahead of Sunday's elections, when almost 1.8 million registered voters will choose 123 MPs as well as the next head of state.

Macedonia's opposition Social Democratic party, SDSM, said it may not recognize the results of the presidential and general elections on April 27, which it is widely expected to lose.

The ruling VMRO DPMNE party said the Social Democrats were looking for an excuse for what seemed an inevitable defeat.

Days before Sunday’s early general and presidential elections in Macedonia, the opposition Social Democratic Party, the SDSM, has presented documents from the land registry that it says show the ruling party recently purchased over 20 apartments, office spaces and building lots worth some €1.6 million.

Macedonia's opposition Social Democratic Party, the SDSM, has filed charges against Prime Minister Gruevski on three accounts of taking bribes and tax evasion.

“By law, the minimum penalty for tax evasion alone is a minimum of four years in jail,” the head of the SDSM, Zoran Zaev, told a press conference.

Greece sees increase in tourism

A wave of tourists visited Greece for the Easter holiday. Also in business news: The European Central Bank launched a Eurosystem co-operation programme with Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia

Greece has seen an influx of tourists for the Easter holiday. [AFP]

With less than a week to go before the April 27 general election, Macedonia's ruling VMRO DPMNE party has released a set of four video adverts, featuring young professional singers of the national opera and ballet house, the MOB.

In the videos, the singers call on people to give VMRO DPMNE a comfortable majority in parliament.

Macedonia promotes education for Roma population

The government and civil society are funding and implementing programmes for young Roma to attend school and improve their social integration.

Roma community leaders tour the new Roma high school in Suto Orizari. [Miki Trajkovski/SETimes]

The recording released amid a tense election campaign in Macedonia comes a day after opposition Social Democrats accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of taking a bribe of €1.5 million for expediting the sale of Makedonska Banka AD to Serbian businessman Jovica Stefanovic, aka “Gazda Nini” ["Boss Nini"] in 2004.

Macedonia's opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, has accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of selling Makedonska Banka AD to a controversial Serbian businessman, Jovica Stefanovic, known as “Gazda Nini” ["Boss Nini"] for a bribe.

Macedonian police said they would charge six people over a brawl that took place on Tuesday in Skopje’s Lisice district between supporters of the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party and the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM.

The affray erupted moments after the opposition Social Democrat presidential candidate, Stevo Pendarovski, left the area.