Parliament set to elect new Government

Skopje, 28 July 2011 (MIA) - The Parliament will resume Thursday the debate following the elaboration of PM-designate Nikola Gruevski. According to the Rules of Procedure, the new Government is to elected by midnight at the latest.

On Wednesday, Gruevski said rising economic standard and employment, Macedonia's EU and NATO integration, uncompromising fight against corruption and crime, good interethnic relations, along with investments in education, science and IT are the five priorities of the new Government.

After this session, the newly-elected premier will submit to the Parliament the names of deputy ministers, who will be elected at a session scheduled on Friday.

Nikola Gruevski - the sixth prime minister in independent Macedonia - has been given an opportunity for a third time in a row to form a government after his party VMRO-DPMNE won the elections in 2011, 2008 and 2006.

Incumbent Vice-Premiers Zoran Stavreski and Vladimir Pesevski (VMRO-DPMNE) are keeping their positions, as it is the case with their party colleagues Gordana Jankuloska and Elizabeta Kanceska - Mileska, namely the ministers of interior and culture respectively.

Incumbent Macedonia's Ambassador to the European Union, Nikola Popovski, is to take over the helm of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while former Education Minister Nikola Todorov will become new head of the Ministry of Health. Pance Kralev will now take his place at the Ministry of Education and Science. Ivo Ivanovski, Mile Janakieski will also resume their duties as Ministers of Administration, Information Society; Transport & Communications respectively.

Socialist Party member Ljupco Dimovski also stays at the helm of the Ministry of Agriculture, while incumbent deputy minister for labor and social policy Spiro Risteski is to take the ministerial position in the new government.

VMRO-DPMNE coalition partner DUI will give two Vice-Premiers - for European Affairs; Framework Agreement Implementation - Teuta Arifi and Musa Xhaferi respectively. Valon Saracini is to take the office of the Economy Minister, while Fatmir Besimi will become the new Defense Minister.

Abdulaqim Ademi, Nevzat Bejta and Blerim Bexheti are to be the new ministers of environment, local self-government and justice.

Nezdet Mustafa, Hadi Nezir and Vele Samak will resume their duties as ministers without portfolio, along with one new nomination - Bill Pavleski.