VMRO-DPMNE

Macedonia's Organized Crime Prosecution has apparently identified some of the masked thugs who took part in a rampage in parliament in April, an unnamed source in the prosecution body told BIRN on Monday.

They have done so by comparing photographs taken before the rampage with footage taken during the actual attack on parliament, the source said.

The visit of Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to Bulgaria was a positive step in bilateral relations, while the signing of the friendship treaty will be a sign about a new type of relations, political scientist Daniel Smilov told Focus Radio.

Long-standing members of the former ruling right-wing VMRO DPMNE party - which is now in opposition after 11 years in power - have launched a bid to 'democratise' the party.

An Interior Ministry report completed last week but not yet made public says a violent attack on parliament by VMRO DPMNE party supporters on April 27 was not spontaneous.

Macedonia's new government was elected Wednesday night with the support of 62 MPs in the 120-seat parliament. Its establishment is expected to put an end to the prolonged political crisis in the country. The previous government, led by the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party stood accused of allegations of wiretapping and corruption.
 

Zoran Zaev revealed the composition of his cabinet late Sunday, which parliament is expected to approved this week. Speaker of Parliament Talat Xhaferi has set the date for the session to start on Tuesday.

The key posts are to be shared between Zaev's Social Democratic Party, SDSM, and Macedonia's main ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI.

The video, captured by security cameras inside the Macedonian parliament shows Krsto Mukoski and Saso Vasilevski, two MPs from the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party, removing the security bars from the main gate just seconds before the crowd of angry VMRO-DPMNE supporters enter parliament going on to attack their bitter political opponents.

Macedonia's Prime Minister-designate Zoran Zaev - who received a mandate to form a government on Wednesday - accused Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic of running a hostile "campaign", when talking about an alleged "Macedonian scenario" that would then create instability in Serbia as well.

Macedonia's President Gjorge Ivanov on Wednesday mandated Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev to form a coalition government with ethnic Albanian parties after holding off for nearly six months, raising hopes for an end to a two-year political deadlock.

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.