Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova made history on Sunday by becoming the first female president of North Macedonia, but her inauguration ceremony quickly reignited a diplomatic dispute with neighboring Greece.
During the ceremony in the country’s Parliament, Siljanovska-Davkova referred to her country as “Macedonia,” rather than the agreed-upon constitutional name “North Macedonia.” This action prompted Greece’s Ambassador to Skopje to leave the ceremony, and the Greek Foreign Ministry issued a statement expressing concern over the violation of the agreement between the two nations.
The use of the name “Macedonia” has long been a point of contention between the two countries, with Greece accusing North Macedonia of appropriating Greek history and culture. The decades-old dispute was thought to be resolved in 2018 when both sides signed an agreement adopting the name “North Macedonia,” allowing the country to join NATO and apply for EU membership.
However, Siljanovska-Davkova’s actions have brought the issue back to the forefront, as she belongs to the center-right opposition group that opposed the agreement. Despite this, she won both the presidential and parliamentary elections last week.
In her inauguration speech, Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized the importance of unity and promised to focus on women’s empowerment and European integration. She vowed to “feminize” and “Europeanize” the country, calling for a positive change in Macedonian society.
As the sixth president of North Macedonia since its independence in 1991, Siljanovska-Davkova faces the challenge of balancing domestic politics with international relations, particularly with Greece.