US Ambassador Jess Baily announced today that he is leaving Macedonia, and is soon expected to retire from the State Department. The Embassy pointed out that, as the new Ambassador is still not confirmed, Baily’s deputy Micaela Schweitzer – Bluhm will take over as Charge d’Affaires.

Thank you #NorthMacedonia for your hospitality, friendship & kindness. Until next time, Baily wrote, adding a Macedonian phrase for “see you later” in his tweet.

Baily was seen as the driver behind the political crisis of 2015 and the Colored Revolution protests which brought down the VMRO-DPMNE Government and installed one led by SDSM leader Zoran Zaev. He was visibly triumphant after Zaev signed the Prespa treaty to rename Macedonia into North Macedonia and redefine Macedonian national identity and history.