Opposition will target Skopje's ethnic Albanian allies

Significance

In an interview to Alsat, the TV channel that has most influence among North Macedonia's Albanians, Mickoski argued that overcoming the present government was of common interest to both the North Macedonian and Albanian electoral blocs. Mickoski and VMRO are clearly buoyed by the opposition New Democracy (ND) victory in Greek parliamentary elections on July 7. They are trying to emulate ND's winning tactic by capitalising on the weaknesses of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government and growing dissatisfaction in North Macedonia.

Impacts

• The government has been unable to stabilise the country, with government and opposition failing to agree on even minimal common ground.
• This is likely to lead to a new bout of external pressure and initiatives to break the internal political deadlock.
• Skopje's stalling on reform and the chill in relations with neighbours weaken its chances to get a date for EU membership negotiations.