The Macedonian government on Wednesday survived a parliamentary vote of no-confidence brought by the opposition Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) party over its handling of relations with Greece and Bulgaria.

Debate on the motion brought by the VMRO-DPMNE, the largest single party in the parliament, began on the morning of April 11th. The vote was seen as a test for Prime Minister Zaev's reform agenda and policy of improving relations with the two neighbours as a step to joining the European Union and NATO. 62 deputies in the 120-seat parliament voted against the no-confidence motion, while 40 were in favour.

Macedonia declared independence in 1991 and avoided the other wars that rocked the former Yugoslavia. However, an insurgency by its large ethnic Albanian minority nearly tore the country apart in 2001.The country of 2 million has made little progress towards EU and NATO membership due to the dispute with Greece.

Greece objects to the former Yugoslav republic’s use of the name Macedonia, arguing that it could imply territorial claims over its own northern region of the same name.

The main nationalist opposition party accused the government of lacking a clear strategy in its talks with Greece to resolve a dispute that has lingered since 1991,  over the country's name.  They also said that the friendship agreement, ratified in January, with Bulgaria was harmful.

The opposition has accused Zaev of reneging on election pledges to improve the economy, reform the judiciary and secure media freedom.

VMRO-DPMNE has returned to parliament after a boycott that began in December 2017, when five of its MPs were arrested over last year's clashes between nationalist protesters and deputies in parliament in which Zaev was injured.

Its presence is key for the passage of laws including one on judiciary reform that is a pre-condition for EU accession and requires a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

"Zaev, you are leading the most inefficient and unworkable government in the history of our country," Dragan Danev, the VMRO-DPMNE's parliamentary coordinator, told deputies.

"It's not only me talking or my party, it's the perception of the people. This government has shown that it does not have the capacity to hold executive power," he said.

Zaev's government took office last May ending a two-year political crisis that brought down a VMRO-DPMNE government.

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