SDSM leader and PM-designate Zoran Zaev submitted to the Parliament of Macedonia the official proposal for election of the new government. The session for election of the new government was scheduled by Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi for Saturday 29 August. PM-designate Zaev said that the new government will be efficient, stable and responsible and will focus on dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other priorities like Euro-Atlantic integrations, implementation of reforms for improvement of the sectors of law, judiciary, economy, education etc. “The citizens voted in fair, free and democratic elections on 15 July thus expressing their position and direction, which we are introducing into a program today. I hope that quality debate will take place in the parliament and that the new government will be approved with the necessary majority. We all commit ourselves to continue to move forward, and to work even more and harder and we will ask citizens for greater involvement in their government. All coalition partners agree to committedly continue the implementation of the agreements with the Republic of Greece and the Republic of Bulgaria that led to NATO membership and the decision to open EU accession negotiations, as well as the Ohrid Framework Agreement which is the basis of peaceful coexistence. Given the COVID-19 situation, the new government will pledge for important investments in public healthcare ensuring well-equipped facilities and motivated staff that will fight against the coronavirus crisis,” Zaev said at a press conference in front of the Parliament, joined by the 19 nominees for ministers in the new government.