Late Monday night, May 27, a decisive agreement was reached: the Albanian opposition coalition in North Macedonia, VLEN, will join the next government, pushing Ali Ahmeti's BDI into the opposition.
 |
| Session in the Parliament of North Macedonia (archive) |
In the May 8 elections, VMRO-DPMNE secured 58 seats out of 120 in the parliament. The European Front, led by BDI, won 18 seats, the same number as the Social Democratic Union (SDSM), which has been in power for the past seven years. The VLEN coalition garnered 14 seats.
Following the confirmation of this new alliance, leaders of the Albanian opposition coalition VLEN will take roles in both the legislative and executive branches. Bilall Kasami, head of the BESA Movement, will return to his duties as the mayor of Tetovo.
Afrim Gashi, leader of the Alternative party, has been appointed Speaker of the Parliament of North Macedonia. Gashi, 47, who previously served as a publicist, has been a parliament member for two terms, from 2016 to 2020 and 2020 to 2024. He resigned from his party leadership position in accordance with regulations that prohibit the Speaker from holding any other political office.
Another key figure in the VLEN coalition, Arben Taravari, the current mayor of Gostivar and a former presidential candidate, will assume the role of Minister of Health. Taravari, a physician by profession, returns to this position after more than seven years, having previously served in Zoran Zaev's government.
Izet Mexhiti, head of the Democratic League (LD) and former BDI member, will relinquish his parliamentary seat to become the First Deputy Prime Minister.
The first session of the newly constituted parliament, following the regular elections, began on Tuesday, May 28. Within ten days of this session, newly elected President Gordana Silanovska-Davkova is expected to nominate VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickovski as the prime minister-designate.
VMRO-DPMNE and the VLEN coalition have nearly concluded negotiations for a coalition government and the distribution of ministerial posts. The new government will likely include up to six Albanian ministers. However, the final agreement will not be disclosed until negotiations are completed with the ZNAM movement, a party holding six seats that is also expected to join the new administration.
According to VMRO-DPMNE's projections, the new government of North Macedonia is expected to be formed no later than June 20.