North Macedonia Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

NORTH MACEDONIA · POLITICS

North Macedonia is a small Balkan country of about 1.8 million people, and its government holds a firm majority. Since mid-2024 a conservative-led coalition has run it, while a dispute with neighbouring Bulgaria keeps its European Union bid on hold.

This guide, part of the Rio Times Europe politics coverage, explains who holds power in October 2026 and why it matters to US readers. A neighbour in the same fight is Bulgaria, covered in our Bulgaria guide.

Published Sunday, 1 November 2026, ET · Primary sources: North Macedonia’s State Election Commission, the Assembly, the State Statistical Office, the Council of the EU and NATO.

How North Macedonia’s System Works

North Macedonia has a single-chamber parliament called the Assembly, with 120 seats. A party or coalition needs 61 seats to hold a majority.

The prime minister, chosen by the Assembly, directs the cabinet and sets policy. The president is elected by voters for five years and mainly represents the state.

Ethnic Albanians make up about a quarter of the population, according to the 2021 census. A 2001 peace deal, the Ohrid Framework Agreement, ended a short conflict and guarantees them a share of power, which is why Albanian parties sit in most governments.

Who Holds Power Now

Hristijan Mickoski leads VMRO-DPMNE (the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation, Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity), a conservative nationalist party. He became prime minister on 24 June 2024, when 77 of the 120 lawmakers voted for his cabinet and 22 voted against.

His government rests on three groups. VMRO-DPMNE and its allies won 58 seats in the 8 May 2024 election, and they govern with VLEN, a coalition of ethnic Albanian parties, and For Our Macedonia (ZNAM), a small movement that took 6 seats.

Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, a law professor backed by VMRO-DPMNE, was elected president in May 2024. She is the first woman to hold the office.

Afrim Gashi, of the ethnic Albanian party Alternativa, has chaired the Assembly since 28 May 2024. Timčo Mucunski is foreign minister and handles the talks with Bulgaria and Brussels.

The Opposition Camp

The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), the centre-left party that was the main governing party from 2017 until 2024, fell to 18 seats in 2024. Venko Filipče leads it.

The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), an ethnic Albanian party that was a partner in the previous government, won 18 seats as part of the European Front, a DUI-led alliance. The Left (Levica), a leftist party, won 6 seats.

The governing parties also swept the local elections of autumn 2025.

The 2025 Local Elections

VMRO-DPMNE won most mayoral posts in the local elections, which ended with a second round on 2 November 2025. Orce Gjorgjievski of VMRO-DPMNE won the race for mayor of the capital, Skopje.

Four municipalities, among them Gostivar, had to repeat their votes because turnout fell below the legal threshold of one third. Exact mayor counts changed after those repeat votes, so we do not give a final tally.

Why the EU Bid Is Stuck

North Macedonia has been an EU candidate since 2005, and accession talks opened in July 2022 after Bulgaria’s parliament lifted its veto in June 2022. That deal requires Skopje to amend its constitution so that Bulgarians are named as one of the country’s peoples.

Mickoski says no government can make that change without guarantees. He says he wants Bulgaria to confirm that the amendment is the last condition, and he wants rights for the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria.

Bulgaria holds a presidential runoff on 1 November 2026 between President Iliana Iotova and Andrey Gyurov, a banker and former caretaker prime minister.

The Name, NATO and the West

The country was called Macedonia until 2019. Under the 2018 Prespa Agreement with Greece it took its present name, which took effect on 12 February 2019, and that deal cleared the way for NATO membership.

North Macedonia became NATO’s 30th member on 27 March 2020.

What It Means for US Readers

North Macedonia is a NATO ally in the Western Balkans, a region where Washington has long tried to limit Russian influence. A stalled EU path can weaken pro-Western voices there, so each step in the Bulgaria dispute is worth watching.

For investors and travellers, the government’s solid majority points to stable policy rather than early elections. The main risk is slow progress toward EU rules, which would shape trade and investment conditions.

For deeper reading, see Greece Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026.

What Is Not Known

We could not verify a recent independent poll, so current party support is unclear. The exact seat count in the Assembly today may differ slightly from the 2024 result because lawmakers can switch groups.

It is not known whether Bulgaria will accept the guarantees Skopje wants. Nor is it clear when the government will bring the constitutional change to a vote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the prime minister of North Macedonia?

Hristijan Mickoski of VMRO-DPMNE has been prime minister since 24 June 2024. He leads a coalition with VLEN, a bloc of ethnic Albanian parties, and the ZNAM movement.

Who is the president of North Macedonia?

Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, elected in May 2024, is president. The role is mostly ceremonial.

When is the next election in North Macedonia?

The next parliamentary election is due in 2028 and the next presidential election in 2029, based on four- and five-year terms.

Why is North Macedonia’s EU accession stalled?

Bulgaria wants the constitution to name Bulgarians as one of the country’s peoples. Skopje wants guarantees that no new conditions will follow.

Is North Macedonia in NATO?

Yes. It became NATO’s 30th member on 27 March 2020, after settling its name dispute with Greece.

Sources: State Election Commission of North Macedonia, 2024-05; Assembly of North Macedonia, 2026-10; Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, 2026-10; Council of the European Union, North Macedonia, 2026-10; State Statistical Office, 2021 census, 2022-03; NATO, North Macedonia joins the Alliance, 2020-03-27.