Macedonia Announces Early Elections On June 5

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski

Macedonia's parliament speaker, Trajko Veljanovski, said today that early elections will be held on June 5.

The proposal for early elections follows a month-long boycott of the parliament by the biggest opposition party, the Social Democratic Union (SDSM).

All 79 deputies present in the 120-seat parliament unanimously supported the June date proposed by the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party.

The SDSM has been boycotting the parliament since late January, insisting on early elections.

The SDSM walked out from the parliament after the A1 pro-opposition television station and three newspapers had their bank accounts frozen because their media tycoon owner, Velija Ramkovski, was under investigation for tax evasion.

compiled from agency reports