President of North Macedonia Refuses to Utter the Country's Name

(Patria) - The first female president of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, yesterday during her oath-taking ceremony refused to utter the new name of the country, which has been in use since the 2018 agreement with Greece.

- I declare that I will perform the duty of President of Macedonia conscientiously and responsibly, that I will respect the Constitution and laws, and that I will protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Macedonia - said Siljanovska-Davkova before the parliamentary deputies and dignitaries at the ceremony.

The official text uses the constitutional name of the country - North Macedonia.

The candidate of the nationalist right, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, was elected on May 8 to a five-year term in the second round of the presidential elections.

She defeated the Social Democrat and outgoing president Stevo Pendarovski with 65 percent of the vote.

She is the first woman in this position since the declaration of independence of this Balkan country in 1991.