Hristijan

Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has firmly stated that his country "will not kneel before Bulgaria," responding to recent remarks by Bulgarian leaders Boyko Borissov and President Rumen Radev.

The decision of the state and political leadership in North Macedonia not to use "the constitutional name of the country in public speeches domestically" constitutes a "flagrant violation" of the Prespa Agreement, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis has said.

The newly elected Prime Minister of North Macedonia has firmly stated that during his tenure, there will be no alterations made to the country's constitution. Hristijan Mickoski declared, "This Bulgarian dictate will not be accepted," during his inaugural address following his election.

North Macedonia's new prime minister has described as "shameful" the inclusion of the designation "North" in the constitutional name of the country but said he was required to "capitulate" to its use as it was now part of the country's legal system.

Despite the slight shift in the public discourse of North Macedonia's prime minister-in-waiting, Hristijan Mickoski, experienced diplomats view the "stealth war" strategy followed by the new leadership of the neighboring country as a violation of the "ergo omnes" term of the Prespa Agreement - that is, the use of the country's constitutional name both internally and externally. 

North Macedonia's parliament began a two-day debate leading up to a vote on the new government proposed by a center-right party that won May's national elections.

North Macedonia's prime minister-in-waiting has referred to his county as "Macedonia" three times at the start of a two-day parliamentary debate leading up to a vote on his new government.

Hristijan Mickoski, a 46-year-old former engineering professor, has pledged to continue his center-left predecessors' efforts to shepherd the small Balkan NATO member into the European Union.

All diplomatic eyes in Athens will be on North Macedonia this weekend, as Parliament votes on approving the government announced by the leader of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party and winner of last month's parliamentary elections, Hristijan Mickoski.

VMRO-DPMNE leader and prime minister-elect of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, said he will respect the Prespa agreement, but he will continue to use the name Macedonia in his public remarks, during a press conference on Wednesday. 

The rift between Athens and Skopje is deepening, with North Macedonian Prime Minister-elect Hristijan Mickoski stating he will refrain from verbally using the country's constitutional name - i.e without the affixed geographical designation of North - in violation of the Prespa Agreement.