Head Of Macedonia's Election Commission Resigns

In a short statement, Aleksandar Novakovski cited his “compromised position” as the reason for his stepping down. He did not explain why he considers his position "compromised".

His resignation came as a surprise to many in Macedonia.
 
Novakovski says he leaves the Commission in good condition, ready to carry out elections whenever they are set.

He was elected head of the Commission in 2008 with a mandate of four years after being proposed by the opposition Social Democrats. Novakovski oversaw the 2008 snap polls and the 2009 presidential and local elections.

A replacement for Novakovski should be proposed by the opposition, and must be approved by the parliament.

Meanwhile, the government and the opposition remain entrenched in their positions regarding snap polls.

The conservative VMRO DPMNE-led government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski insists on an immediate face off with the opposition Social Democrats. They propose mid-April as an election date.

The opposition head Branko Crvenkovski is pushing for mid-June, saying that the country needs more time to prepare and ensure the basic preconditions for free and fair polls.

After calling for early elections over the past five months, the Social Democrats left the parliament in late January, accusing Gruevski of installing a totalitarian-like rule.

They accused him of trying to shut down media who criticise the government’s work, of failing to deliver economic growth and of deliberately keeping the country away from NATO and EU.

The government rebuffs the accusations and calls the opposition's insistence on early elections a bluff.