VMRO-DPMNE Deputy President Aleksandar Nikoloski warned that Macedonia will not open EU accession talks in 2019. As Zaev’s promise that talks will begin this June seems beyond reach, he is grasping at a later date during the year, but Nikoloski says this will not happen.

My information indicates that Macedonia will not get a date to open accession talks in June. I’ve made several expectations public recently. I’m not happy they came true, and I can now make another one. There will be no opening of accession talks in June, nor in July, or October. There will be no talks by the end of the year, Nikoloski said.

Zaev announced he will call for early elections if the EU doesn’t grant him accession talks, and in response VMRO demands that he resigns and a technical Government is put in place to prepare the elections.