Macedonia: no election deal after political leaders meeting

Thursday’s meeting of Macedonian political leaders ended without agreement.

After starting late and convening for less than an hour, the leaders came out with no agreement whatsoever on how to end the political gridlock caused by the opposition parliament boycott and a dispute over the date for the forthcoming election.

The prime minister and leader of the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party, Nikola Gruevski, told press that snap polls would be called with or without the opposition. He said they planned to announce the date shortly.

Branko Crvenkovski of the Social Democrats said his party’s boycott of parliament, which started in late January, would continue. He accused Gruevski for being unwilling to reach agreement.

“We are ready for future talks if the ruling party initiates them,” Crvenkovski said.