(24 Jun 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Skopje – 22 June 2024
1. Hristijan Mickoski, leader of center-right VMRO DPMNE and new prime minister, is greeted in the parliament
2. Mickoski, left, shaking hands with the speaker Afrim Gashi
3. Mid of Mickoski at the beginning of the session
4. SOUNDBITE (Macedonian) Hristijan Mickoski, leader of center-right VMRO DPMNE and new Prime Minister:
"I am announcing that already on Tuesday, we will have a new investment worth more than 400 million euro ($428 million). Then we will lower the taxes, increase the pensions and secure money for capital projects. Enough time was spent on made up subjects and ethnic questions. Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves, solve problems and for this to be a government of economy and development, that’s what everybody wants.”
5. SOUNDBITE (Macedonian) Hristijan Mickoski, leader of center-right VMRO DPMNE and new Prime Minister: ++DIFFERENT ANGLE++
"Dear lawmakers, I ask you for your support in changing our fatherland, to create conditions for better living. We will proceed forward with pride and decidedness, restoring Macedonia, which is yours again, where transparency and accountability are not just ideals, but reality.”
6. SOUNDBITE (Macedonian) Hristijan Mickoski, leader of center-right VMRO DPMNE and new Prime Minister: ++DIFFERENT ANGLE++
"We continue to stand together with our partners from the European Union, where we will synchronize our foreign policy according to the European Union. The support for Ukraine and the defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity will continue.”
7. Pan of ambassadors attending the session from the balcony
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Skopje – 23 June 2024
8. Mickoski talking to his cabinet members
9. Various of lawmakers voting for the new government
10. Various of lawmakers and ministers applauding
11. Wide of Mickoski, front left, and members of his cabinet
12. Mickoski and cabinet members taking oath UPSOUND (Macedonian): "I declare that the function of president of the government (ministers) will perform conscientiously and responsibly, and I will respect the Constitution and laws of the Republic of North Macedonia“
13. Mickoski and cabinet members signing the oath
14. Various of Mickoski and his cabinet members posing for the media
STORYLINE:
North Macedonia’s center-right leader secured parliamentary approval to lead a new coalition government in a vote late Sunday.
Hristijan Mickoski, 46, faces significant challenges in his four-year term in office — above all to advance the small Balkan NATO member’s lengthy efforts to join the 27-nation European Union.
"Now it’s time to roll up our sleeves, solve problems and for this to be a government of economy and development, that’s what everybody wants," he told lawmakers.
He promised to cut taxes and raise pensions, while growing the economy by 5% this year and cutting inflation to no more than 2.5%.
On Sunday, he announced that he will invest 400 million euro ($428 million) in the country’s economy.
He also said that his country will continue to support Ukraine and its "defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” and align with the EU.
At the same time, his VMRO DPMNE party’s nationalist bent is antagonizing neighboring members of the affluent bloc, in stark contrast to the previous center-left government it defeated in May’s national elections.
A total 77 lawmakers in the 120-seat house voted in favor of the new government, and 22 voted against.
The remaining 21 lawmakers were absent during the ballot.
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