SKOPJE: North Macedonia’s first feminine president was inaugurated on Sunday, with the brand new nationalist chief promptly setting the tone in a speech that didn’t acknowledge the nation’s new title.The Balkan nation added “North” to its title in 2018 to finish a long-running dispute with Greece, following an historic settlement. However Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova’s get together, the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE, opposed the accord and have refused to acknowledge the nation’s new title.The fitting-wing get together earned a simple victory in parliamentary and presidential elections on Wednesday, with the ruling Social Democrats (SDSM) conceding defeat earlier than any official outcomes have been introduced. Addressing lawmakers and assembled invited VIPs on Wednesday, Siljanovska-Davkova mentioned she would “respect the structure and the legal guidelines and shall shield the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Macedonia”.”I declare I shall perform the workplace of president of Macedonia in a conscientious and accountable method,” she added.The official written textual content of her tackle included the official title North Macedonia, an AFP reporter noticed.Siljanovska-Davkova, who turned 71 on Saturday, was elected as president to a five-year mandate after securing a second-round ballot victory with 65 p.c of the votes. She defeated Social Democratic outgoing head of state Stevo Pendarovski, who gathered 29 p.c.The retired college professor vowed to be the president of “all residents”, and made an enchantment for nationwide unity. Skopje’s 2018 accord with Athens so as to add the prefix North to its title ended a long time of quarrelling with Greece, which was against its neighbour bearing the identical title as that of one in all its historic provinces.The problem had seen Greece lengthy oppose the nation becoming a member of NATO — it did lastly be part of the alliance in 2020 — and delay talks on its path to ultimately changing into an EU member.European Fee president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel each supplied Siljanovska-Davkova congratulations.”Congratulations, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, on changing into the primary feminine President of North Macedonia,” von der Leyen mentioned on X, previously Twitter.”Your management comes at a vital time, as your nation advances its reforms and continues on its path in the direction of the EU,” she added.VMRO-DMPNE additionally topped the Could 8 legislative polls, successful 58 of 120 parliamentary seats to see off the SDSM social democrats, in energy since 2017.The return to energy of the fitting within the poor nation of 1.8 million dangers reigniting tensions with Greece in addition to Bulgaria, which has positioned its personal situations for North Macedonia being afforded EU membership.Sofia has lengthy blocked accession for Skopje over linguistic and historic points.
