Zeljko Bajic
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Macedonia's mainstream parties hoped for a quieter life by putting up junior candidates as successors to the country's overweening father figure, president Kiro Gligorov, but the contest only heralds deeper crises.
Skopje is struggling to deal with an upsurge in illegal migrants and smugglers.
Some Macedonians are suspicious of their government's attempts to build bridges with neighbouring Bulgaria.
Government interference is being blamed for a wave of corruption and indiscipline in the Macedonian armed forces
A dispute over teaching in the Albanian language is raising political tensions in Macedonia
Macedonia may have been spared inter -ethnic violence, but it remains a bitterly divided society.
Macedonians say trouble-making NATO troops are abusing their hospitality.
A political storm has broken out in Macedonia over the controversial release of an Albanian criminal.
Thousands of Romany refugees eke out a hand-to-mouth existence in Macedonia, unwanted by the West and unable to return to their Kosovo homes
Macedonians despair as successive governments become embroiled in corruption scandals.