Gordana Silanovska-Davkova was sworn in on Sunday as North Macedonia’s first female president since the country’s independence in the 1990s, after winning the presidential election on May 8.
Davkova defeated Stevo Pendarovski, by winning twice as many votes as he did in Wednesday’s runoff.
After being sworn in during a session before the outgoing composition of the Assembly of North Macedonia, Davkova, however, during her speech avoided the word “north” in the name of the state, as she had warned during her campaign.
In 2018, an agreement was reached in Prespa with Greece to change the name from Macedonia to North Macedonia, ending years of disputes and paving the way for the country’s efforts to integrate into the EU and NATO.
“I will be the president of all, both the left and the right part of the Assembly; president of all citizens regardless of their ethnic, religious or political affiliation”, said Davkova.
However, Davkova, in her speech, did not talk about issues related to the country’s European integration process, which depends on constitutional changes based on an agreement with Bulgaria, but said that she will work for “the Europeanization of the country together with other Balkan countries”.
Davkova does not support changing the Constitution, but in an interview with Radio Free Europe recently, she said that if Parliament approves the constitutional amendments – which would allow Bulgarians and five other ethnic minorities to become part of the Macedonian Constitution – she would respect them.
Meanwhile, Davkova said that now “is the time for unity” and for this she would turn to women, “because we want to show that we do not only care for ourselves, but also for everyone around us. Faith is very important, and I will justify it.”
She promised that her presidential cabinet will reflect the ethnic composition of the country, “where there will be room for Macedonians, Albanians and representatives of other entities, while their selection will be based on professional and non-partisan criteria”.
In the Assembly hall were the representatives of all the parliamentary parties before the May 8 elections.
