No-confidence vote against N. Macedonia's SDSM govt fails over lack of quorum - report

Only 60 of 120 members of parliament registered for the session, short of the minimum of 61 required for the vote to take place, broadcaster Telma reported late on Thursday.

Kastriot Rexhepi, representative of the Besa Movement, did not register for the session despite signing the no-confidence motion.

Prompt snap elections are the only solution to the political crisis, Aleksandar Nikolovski, representative of main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, said in a statement late on Thursday.

VMRO-DPMNE filed a motion of no confidence against the government earlier this week. The motion was supported by the Alliance of Albanians (AA), the Besa Movement and the Levica party.

Zaev announced in late October that was stepping down as head of government after his left-wing SDSM party suffered a defeat in the local elections held on October 31. However, SDSM's central committee decided that the prime minister has to postpone indefinitely his resignation until the political situation in the country is stabilised.

VMRO-DPMNE said last week that it has formed a majority in the current parliament that would replace the SDSM cabinet following Zaev's resignation.