Skopje, 5 November 2023 (MIA) — The Macedonian Writers Association has received four bids for new president and two for new assembly speaker, following the resignations of most of the current leadership.

Zhivko Grozdanoski, Blazhe Minevski, Mirche Neshovski and Goce Ristovski submitted their candidacies for MWA president and Ivan Antonovski and Stefan Markovski submitted their candidacies for MWA assembly speaker.

According to the MWA, these six members submitted their candidacies for the top two leadership positions by the legal deadline of Nov. 4, ahead of the emergency assembly session scheduled for Nov. 25.

The candidates' bids should be considered at the session, which was scheduled by assembly speaker Kristina Nikolovska prompted by recent developments in the MWA.

Previously, roughly a third of the MWA membership had called for the ouster of the association's leadership.

In a public letter, dozens of writers demanded the MWA elect a new president, new assembly speaker, and new management board members, after eight members of the MWA management board had resigned from their posts in October.

Signatories included Vlada Uroshevikj, Olivera Nikolova, Cane Andreevski, Gordana Mihailova Boshnakoska, Mitko Madzhunkov, Sande Stojchevski, Zoran Anchevski, Ljubinka Doneva, Dimitrie Duracovski, Vesna Acevska, Branko Cvetkoski, Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, Bratislav Tashkovski, Gordana Jovikj-Stojkovska, Goce Ristovski, Borche Panov, Sonja Stojmenska-Elzeser, Liljana Pandeva, Sasho Ognenoski, Olivera Kjorveziroska, Vesna Mojsova-Chepishevska, Violeta Tancheva-Zlateva, Elizabeta Jonchikj, Zoran Jakimovski, Lidija Dimkovska, Ana Martinoska, Biljana Crvenkovska, Vladimir Jankovski, Igor Angjelkov, Snezhana Mladenovska Angjelkov, Suzana V. Spasovska, Dime Ratajkoski, Igor Stanojoski, Aleksandra Jurukovska, Snezhana Stojchevska, Marija Girevska, Rumena Buzharovska, Julijana Velichkovska, Irena Jurcheva, Slavica Gadzhova-Sviderska, Mersiha Ismailoska, Dragana Evtimova, Frosina Parmakovska, Milena Ristova-Mihailovska, Zhivko Grozdanoski, Petar Andonovski, Davor Stojanovski, Ana Bunteska, Ivan Antonovski, Mihajlo Sviderski, Smile Naumoski Brsjak, Nikola Ilijovski, Bozhin Pavlovski, Kica Kolbe, Ferid Muhikj, Gligor Stojkovski, Nikola Madzhirov, Milosh Lindro, Pasko Kuzman, Anastasija Gjurchinova, Jovica Ivanovski, Vancho Polazareski, Vlade Dimovski, Vlado Janevski, Dejan Trajkovski, Ljupcho Siljanovski, Naum Popeski, Mirjana Stojanovska, Marina Mijakovska, Budimka Popovska, Ana Pejchinova, Marta Markoska, Vele Smilevski, Rade Siljan, Paskal Gilevski, Blazhe Minevski, Risto Vasilevski, Stojan Tarapuza, Slavcho Koviloski, Vinka Sazdova, Blazhe Kitanov, Zhivko Noveski, Zoran Pejkovski, Jovan Damjanovski, Daniela Andonovska-Trajkovska, Vesna Mundishevska-Veljanovska, Milica Dimitrijovska Radevska, Ivan Trposki, and Gordana Stojanovska.

The president of the MWA, Hristo Petreski, then resigned from his post for the second time, after he had revoked his previous "irrevocable" resignation.

Petreski was elected MWA president and Nikolovska MWA assembly speaker in June 2022. mr/