Croatian 3%, other 3%

Literacy: NA

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
conventional short form: none
local long form: Republika Makedonija
local short form: Makedonija
abbreviation: FYROM

Data code: MK

Type of government: emerging democracy

Capital: Skopje

Administrative divisions: 34 counties (opstinas, singular -
opstina) Berovo, Bitola, Brod, Debar, Delcevo, Gevgelija, Gostivar,
Kavadarci, Kicevo, Kocani, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Krusevo,
Kumanovo, Murgasevo, Negotino, Ohrid, Prilep, Probistip, Radovis,
Resen, Skopje-Centar, Skopje-Cair, Skopje-Karpos, Skopje-Kisela
Voda, Skopje-Gazi Baba, Stip, Struga, Strumica, Sveti Nikole,
Tetovo, Titov Veles, Valandovo, Vinica

Independence: 17 September 1991 (from Yugoslavia)

National holiday: 8 September

Constitution: adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991

Legal system: based on civil law system; judicial review of
legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Kiro GLIGOROV (since 27 January 1991) was
elected by the Assembly in 1991 and reelected by popular vote in
1994; election last held 16 October 1994 (next to be held NA 1997);
results - percent of vote NA; note - following a failed
assassination attempt on the president in October 1995, then
Parliamentary Speaker Stojan ANDOV was acting president; GLIGOROV
resumed his duties in early 1996
head of government: Prime Minister Branko CRVENKOVSKI (since 4
September 1992) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers were elected by the majority vote of
all the deputies in the Assembly; note - after the withdrawal of the
Liberal Party from the ruling coalition in early 1996, the Council
of Ministers was reorganized without LP participation

Legislative branch: unicameral
Assembly (Sobranje): elections last held 16 and 30 October 1994
(next to be held NA November 1998); results - percent of vote by
party NA; seats - (120 total) SDSM 58, LP 29, SPM 8, PDP 10, NDP 4,
independents 7, other 4

Judicial branch: Constitutional Court, judges are elected by the
Judicial Council; Judicial Court of the Republic, judges are elected
by the Judicial Council

Political parties and leaders: Social-Democratic Alliance of
Macedonia (SDSM; former Communist Party), Branko CRVENKOVSKI,
presi