Dimitar Kovačevski | |
|---|---|
Димитар Ковачевски | |
_of_North_Macedonia_in_Washington%2c_D.C._on_8_May_2023_-_52882131968_(cropped).jpg) Kovačevski in 2023 | |
| Prime Minister of North Macedonia | |
| In office 16 January 2022 – 28 January 2024 | |
| President | Stevo Pendarovski |
| Preceded by | Zoran Zaev |
| Succeeded by | Talat Xhaferi |
| Member of the Assembly | |
| Assumed office 28 May 2024 | |
| Leader of theSocial Democratic Union | |
| In office 12 December 2021 – 26 May 2024 | |
| Deputy | Radmila Šekerinska |
| Preceded by | Zoran Zaev |
| Succeeded by | Venko Filipče |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1974-07-24)24 July 1974 (age 51) |
| Political party | Social Democratic Union |
| Profession | Economist |
Dimitar Kovačevski (Macedonian:Димитар Ковачевски,pronounced[di'mitarkɔ'vat͡ʃɛfski]; born 24 July 1974) is aMacedonian politician and economist who served asprime minister of North Macedonia from January 2022 to January 2024.[1]
A member of theSocial Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Kovačevski previously served as deputy finance minister from 2020 until his appointment as prime minister in 2022 after the resignation ofZoran Zaev and as president of SDSM from 2021 to 2024.
Kovačevski was born inKumanovo. He is the son ofSlobodan Kovačevski, mayor of Kumanovo from 2000 to 2005 and ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to Montenegro after the establishment ofdiplomatic relations between the two countries in 2006.[2] He completed high school education inWaterville, Minnesota, United States. In 1998 he graduated at the Faculty of Economics atSs. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje and received a master's degree at the same Faculty in 2003. In 2008 he completed doctoral studies in economics at theFaculty of Economics at the University of Montenegro.[3]
Kovačevski started his working career in 1998 at the Macedonian telecommunications companyMakedonski Telekom. From 2005 to 2017 he held a number of managerial positions in the company. From 2017 to 2018 he was the executive director ofA1 Macedonia (then known as one.Vip), a subsidiary ofTelekom Austria Group.
Kovačevski was an assistant professor at two private universities in Skopje since 2012, first at the New York University of Skopje, and then at the Faculty of Business Economics and Management atUniversity American College Skopje, where in 2018 he was elected associate professor.
In 2018, Kovačevski co-founded a private company, which opened the first domestic factory for the production ofphotovoltaic modules in North Macedonia.
He has been a member of theSocial Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) since 1994.[4]
After the2020 parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, Kovačevski was appointed Deputy Minister of Finance inZoran Zaev's second government.[5] The parliament elected him to this position on 23 September 2020.[6]
Zaev announced his resignation as bothprime minister and leader of theSDSM after a defeat in the 2021 local elections. This caused instability in the fragile ruling majority, which nevertheless survived a push from the opposition led byVMRO-DPMNE for a no-confidence vote.[7] In the aftermath, Zaev's government strengthened its majority in the parliament by gaining the support of four other MPs fromAlternativa, which until then was in the opposition. Kovačevski accompanied Zaev during negotiations with Alternativa, which launched his name as Zaev's most likely successor.[8]
After Zaev officially resigned as president of the SDSM, Kovačevski won the internal party elections on 12 December 2021, leaving the other two candidates far behind in votes and succeeding Zaev as leader of the party.[9][10][11][12] He was sworn in as prime minister on 16 January 2022.[1][13]
On 25 January 2024, Kovačevski resigned. Starting from 28 January, 100 days prior to theparliamentary elections on 8 May, a technical government in accordance with thePržino Agreement led the country.[14] After SDSM's defeat in the parliamentary elections, he stepped down from his position as party leader and was succeeded byVenko Filipče.[15]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of North Macedonia 2022–2024 | Succeeded by |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Zoran Zaev | Leader of theSocial Democratic Union 2021–2024 | Succeeded by |