The ruling majority is close to a deal on a consensual presidential candidate. Optimism was expressed following PM Zaev’s meeting on Tuesday with the leaders of Alternative and DPA, Afrim Gashi and Menduh Thaci, respectively. Names aren’t publicly being mentioned, but party sources told Telma TV that Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, FM Nikola Dimitrov, Defence Minister Radmila Sekerinska and NATO Integration National Coordinator Stevo Pendarovski were the options on the table. Parties’ organisational secretaries will in the coming period check members’ opinions, after which a final decision will be made. Gashi’s Alternative proposes for the presidential candidate to be an above-party person that wasn’t in the past making, as it said, “unfortunate statements”. Thaci has full trust in the government and supports a joint candidate. Zaev will meet on Wednesday and Thursday Alliance for Albanians and Besa, respectively.