Macedonian PM launches formal resignation process
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Macedonia's prime minister has submitted his resignation to the speaker of Parliament, launching the procedure that should see him replaced by a caretaker until early elections April 24.
Nikola Gruevski made the move Friday as agreed in a Western-brokered deal to end a political crisis triggered by a wiretapping scandal.
Under Macedonian law, lawmakers will be summoned within the next seven days to accept or reject the resignation.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Also Friday, EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn arrived in Macedonia for talks with Gruevski and opposition leaders on implementing last July's agreement.
In a televised address to the nation late Thursday, Gruevski insisted that the elections must be held on schedule April 24, despite opposition pressure for a delay.