Macedonia's opposition boycotts new parliament
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonia's left-wing opposition boycotted the inaugural session of the newly-elected parliament Saturday.
The Social Democrat-led opposition bloc accused the government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of state interference in favor of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party in the April 27 election.
VMRO-DPMNE won a fourth straight election since 2006, gaining 61 seats in the 123-seat unicameral government. The 34 deputies of the left opposition decided not to accept their mandates. They demand a caretaker government and new elections.
The conservative majority of VMRO-DPMNE and its allies re-elected Trajko Veljanoski as the speaker of the new parliament with 87 votes. He has held the post since 2008.
