Virus-hit North Macedonia votes as EU talks loomNorth Macedonia heads to the polls for an election that will decide the party to take on country's coronavirus outbreak and EU accession talksSKOPJE (REPUBLIC OF NORTH MACEDONIA) - North Macedonia went to the polls on Wednesday in a tight parliamentary election where the winners will face a surging coronavirus outbreak and the start of talks to join the European Union. It is the first parliamentary election since the Balkan country added "North" to its name early last year, ending a decades-old dispute with Greece. The accord ushered the country into NATO and opened the door to the EU. The election pits an architect of the deal, Social Democrats leader and former prime minister Zoran Zaev, against the deal's harsh critics VMRO-DPMNE. Analysts say the party's return to power could damage relations with its neighbours and complicate looming EU accession talks.

Source: Bangkok Post July 15, 2020 06:33 UTC