Analyst on NMacedonian PM's resignation

Social Democrat leader Zoran Zaev announced his resignation as prime minister on Sunday after his party lost municipal races in the capital Skopje and other cities.

Zaev, who will also step down as party leader, favours talks to form a new government within the existing parliamentary mandate. His resignation came as a surprise to many, a political analyst said on Monday. The 47-year-old Zaev said he would remain in office for "a short time" while the political negotiations were in progress.

The pro-Western Social Democrats won a narrow parliamentary election victory last year, forming a government with a multi-party coalition. The next parliamentary election is not officially due until 2024.