Macedonia: Change of Government

By NICHOLAS WOOD
Published: July 7, 2006

Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski conceded defeat in elections that ousted the center-left government. According to early results, the winner, a conservative opposition party, claimed 55 of 120 seats in Parliament, requiring it to form a coalition government. The election, held Wednesday, was marred by irregularities but still met international standards, foreign monitors said, meaning Macedonia's goal of membership in the European Union remained on track.