North Macedonian prime minister resigns

BELGRADE, Serbia

North Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev submitted his resignation to parliament on Wednesday.

The prime minister stepped down after his party failed to win in local elections held in October.

Zaev announced on social media that he resigned from his position as both prime minister and chairman of his party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM).

The SDSM was defeated in the second round of local elections as opposition and independent candidates won in the capital Skopje, Ohrid, Kumanovo, Bitola and other cities.

Before the elections, Zaev said he would take responsibility and resign if his party failed to win in the polls for the mayor of Skopje.

Voters in the Balkan nation headed to the polls on Oct. 17 for the first round of local elections to choose new mayors and city council members.

No candidate received more than 50% of the vote, so the two candidates with the most votes competed in a second round on Oct. 31.

Elections were held for 81 mayors and city council members for each city.