Marko Zvrlevski

New chief prosecutor Joveski will face a struggle to restore faith in the institution which was noted in many reports issued by watchdogs and by Brussels and Washington as having many shortcomings, including the selective application of justice.

Only two of the 23 candidates for the vacant post of Macedonia's chief prosecutor have passed the first filter at the prosecutor's council, prosecutor Ljupco Joveski and professor Elena Andreevska, reports indicate.

A record number of 23 lawyers, university law professors, judges and notaries have applied to Macedonia's parliament for the key post of chief prosecutor - which was vacated in August.

With 64 votes for the dismissal and none against in Macedonia's 120-seat parliament, the majority led by the Social Democrats, SDSM, dismissed the controversial Public Prosecutor, Marko Zvrlevski, a key ally of the now ousted VMRO DPMNE-led government.

The vote took place after MPs from the opposition VMRO DPMNE party left the chamber in protest.

The parliamentary speaker and the ruling majority are being urged to take action to curb the stalling tactics of the opposition VMRO DPMNE party which have been blocking parliament's work for the past month and a half.

Macedonia will soon scrap the controversial Council for Disciplinary Liability and Evaluation of Judges - which was introduced in 2015 under the former ruling VMRO DPMNE party - the new Justice Minister, Bilen Saljiji, said.

Many of the new government's proposed bills, regulations and appointments may fall victim to the strategy adopted by the former ruling VMRO DPMNE, whose MPs have formed ten separate parliamentary caucuses which gave them more opportunities to stall parliament's work.

With 30 cases under investigation and 80 suspects being probed for crimes ranging from election-rigging to large-scale bribery and tax evasion, the Special Prosecution is fulfilling its assigned task of digging into alleged criminal activity by high-ranking state officials, observers told BIRN.

CONSEQUENCES OF KUMANOVO ATTACK Macedonian ministers, head of intelligence service resign

Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska, Minister of Transport Mile Janasijeski, and head of the intelligence service Saso Mijalkov have resigned.

Macedonian ministers, head of intelligence service resign

SKOPJE -- Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska, Minister of Transport Mile Janasijeski, and head of the intelligence service Saso Mijalkov have resigned.