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Macedonia - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS The unicameral assembly (Sobranie) consists of 120 seats. Members are elected by popular vote from party lists, based on the percentage parties gain of the overall vote in each of six election districts of 20 seats each. Members of parliament have a 4-year mandate. The Prime Minister is the head of government and is selected by the party or coalition that gains a majority of seats in parliament. The Prime Minister and other ministers must not be members of parliament. The President represents Macedonia at home and abroad. He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of Macedonia and heads its Security Council. The President is elected by general, direct ballot and has a term of 5 years, with the right to one re-election. General parliamentary elections were last held on July 5, 2006. Presidential elections were held April 14 and 28, 2004 to succeed President Trajkovski, who died in office in February 2004. Local elections on the basis of a new municipal division mandated by the Framework Agreement were held in March-April 2005. The court system consists of a Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and local and appeals courts. The State Judicial Council governs the ethical conduct of judges and recommends to parliament the election of judges. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and is responsible for the equal administration of laws by all courts. Its judges are appointed by parliament without time limit. The Constitutional Court is responsible for the protection of constitutional and legal rights and for resolving conflicts of power between the three branches of government. Its 9 judges are appointed by parliament with a mandate of 9 years, without the possibility of re-election. An independent Public Prosecutor is appointed by parliament with a 6-year mandate. Principal Government Officials President--Branko Crvenkovski Prime Minister--Nikola Gruevski Deputy Prime Minister (EU Integration)--Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska Deputy Prime Minister (Economic Affairs)--Zoran Stavreski Deputy Prime Minister (Framework Agreement Implementation)--Imer Aliu Deputy Prime Minister (Agriculture and Education)--Zivko Jankulovski Foreign Minister--Antonio Milososki Defense Minister--Lazar Elenovski Economy Minister--Vera Rafajlovska Finance Minister--Trajko Slaveski Interior Minister--Gordana Jankulovska Justice Minister--Mihajlo Manevski Appointed Ambassador to the United States--Zoran Jolevski Ambassador to the United Nations--Igor Dzundev The country maintains an embassy in the United States at 2129 Wyoming Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20008 (tel: (202) 667-0501; fax: (202) 667-2131). It maintains a Consulate General in Detroit: 2000 Town Center, Suite 1130, Southfield, MI 48075 (tel: (248) 354-5537; fax: (248) 354-5538).