I expect us to find joint solutions to allow the census to be administered without interruptions all the while making sure public health, including the health of census takers, is fully protected and I expect also VMRO-DPMNE to support the operation, Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev told MIA.

He is due to meet with opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski at 1 pm at the MPs’ Club in Skopje.

“I’m going [to the meeting] to talk, to hear opinions and to call for making utmost efforts in the interest of the citizens,” said Zaev.

He said he is open for discussions on issues related to the functioning of Parliament so as to end the deadlock and provide proper functionality, and also issues in relation to the local elections this fall.

Ahead of the meeting, VMRO-DPMNE said the most pressing issues will be tabled – the issue related to the government, the census, as well as laws considered beneficial for the citizens.

The party calls the situation in the country ‘alarming’.

“The country is hit also by a political crisis in addition to economic and health crisis. Macedonia daily records 30 fatalities and over 1,300 new cases. According to mortality rates, we are top ranked, while being on the bottom according to vaccine rollout in Europe and the world. It’s obvious this government lacks the capacity to lead the country,” says the opposition party, adding VMRO-DPMNE at the leaders’ meeting is willing to offer solutions to the citizens.