Skopje, 4 December 2023 (MIA) - Meeting of leaders of parliamentary political parties - SDSM-led coalition, DUI, Alliance of Albanians, VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition, Levica, and European Alliance for Change parties - is set to take place in the Parliament on Monday at noon, focusing on the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections, EU integration, Electoral Code and the caretaker government. Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi is also expected to attend.

The party leaders are expected to agree on the date for the presidential and parliamentary elections, most probably in May, as presidents of major parties have said in recent statements. The possible runoff of the presidential elections and the parliamentary elections will most likely take place on May 8, with the first round of the presidential polls two weeks earlier (April 24).

Prime Minister and SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski has said EU integration, the election date and the Electoral Code in line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations would be discussed at the meeting.

VMRO-DPMNE accepted to take part at the meeting that would define the exact date for the elections, acceptance of the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and cancellation of the caretaker government and a PM nominated by DUI.

Foreign Minister and DUI spokesman Bujar Osmani said yesterday it is important to open the issue of constitutional amendments at the meeting, claiming they would materialize "six months from now at the latest".

Osmani told Sitel that Speaker Xhaferi could be DUI's nominee for caretaker PM but the party would take a decision on this matter later in the week.

Photo: MIA archive