The political framework of North Macedonia

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Gordana SILJANOVSKA-DAVKOVA (since 12 May 2024)
Prime Minister: Hristijan MICKOSKI (since 23 June 2024)

Next Election Dates

President: 2029
Legislative: May 2028

Main Political Parties

The country's main political divisions are often ethnically based. Political parties typically represent different ethnic groups: the majority Slavo-Macedonians, and minorities including Albanians and Turks. The major political parties represented in the Assembly following the 2024 elections include:

- Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE): centre-right, national conservative; represents ethnic Macedonians. Leads the "Your Macedonia" coalition.
- Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM): centre-left, social democratic; supports EU integration and interethnic cooperation. Leads the "For a European Future" coalition.
- European Front: coalition led by BDI; represents Albanian and other minority interests.
- VLEN Coalition: supports Albanian interests; centre-right.
- The Left (Levica): socialist, nationalist; critical of Western influence.
- For Our Macedonia (ZNAM): left-wing populist; founded by former SDSM members.

Executive Power

North Macedonia declared independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, following a referendum on September 8. The country is a unitary parliamentary republic; its current constitution was adopted on November 17, 1991, and came into force on November 20, 1991.
The President of North Macedonia is elected by popular vote for a five-year term, renewable once, and serves primarily a ceremonial role. Executive power is vested in the Prime Minister, who is usually the leader of the majority party or coalition in the Assembly and is appointed by the Assembly to form and lead the government.

Legislative Power

Legislative power is exercised by the Parliament (called the Sobranie), which is the central institution of the political system. It is unicameral and composed of 120 members (though the Constitution allows for 120–140), elected for four-year terms in multi-member constituencies through closed-list proportional representation. Additionally, the law provides for up to three members to be elected by the diaspora through a simple majority vote, contingent upon sufficient voter turnout; these seats have remained vacant in recent elections due to low participation.