A transitional government took over in North Macedonia on Friday following Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's resignation and will organize parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12.

The transitional government headed by former Internal Affairs Minister Oliver Spaskovski (SDSM) won the votes of 101 of parliament’s 120 MPs. The Prime Minister told parliament that his cabinet would make sure all institutions operate, continue the EuroAtlantic integration process initiated by his predecessor Zoran Zaev’s cabinet and would organize free and democratic elections. He also called the opposition to join in the process of accession to NATO and start of negotiations with the European Union.

The transitional government is almost identical to Zaev’s cabinet with the opposition naming the Internal Affairs and Labor ministers and former Labor Minister Mila Carovska switching to the post of deputy PM for economic issues. Former Intelligence Agency Director Nace Culev was named Internal Affairs Minister and Rasela Mizrahi took over the Labor Ministry, both nominated by the opposition.  

Zaev’s resignation is part of preparations for early elections on April 12 which are being called after the European Union failed to set a date to open accession negotiations with official Skopje.

“The Government has been at work since 8:30 am, I signed the resignation in line with an agreement about elections and the Law on Government,” Zaev said.

The transitional Government is formed 100 days ahead of elections, and the opposition has interior and labour ministers and deputy ministries of finance, agriculture and administration.