Just two days after Kovacevski's election, the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria Kiril Petkov arrived at Skopje on an official visit – an act interpreted as an attempt by both countries to eventually resolve their misunderstandings. Macedonia expects the first intergovernmental conference with the EU and a date for the start of EU membership talks, but this has been repeatedly vetoed by Bulgaria, that demands greater commitment to good neighbourly relations and human rights, including the provision of constitutional guarantees for the rights of ethnic Bulgarians in North Macedonia. Prime Minister Kovacevski announced three key points in his programme: overcoming the economic and energy crisis, overcoming all problems related to Covid-19, and dealing with bilateral disputes – with an emphasis on the one currently going on with Bulgaria – in order to start the integration process in the European Union. Top priority: starting EU accession negotiations Yet, the largest opposition party VMRO DPMNE accuses Kovacevski to be just “an administrator” of a government where the real power lies is in the hands of DUI. The government now claims to rely on a stable majority with 64 MPs in Skopje's parliament. There were no changes in the number of ministries and staff in DUI, but only some reshuffling in the remaining positions, given that the government now has ministers from Alternative. On 16 January, a new government was elected with Kovacevski as Prime Minister and some new ministers from SDSM. Shorly after, Kovacevski received a mandate from President Stevo Pendarovski to form a new government. On 12 December, SDSM elected Dimitar Kovacevski as the new president of the party.

In statements for the local media, Rexhepi explained that with this move he expressed his personal conviction and supported the political groups that he believes are the most able to contribute to North Macedonia's European integration process.Ī few weeks later, Alternative decided to be part of the new government instead of trying to overthrow it and, despite having only 4 MPs, managed to secure three ministries after tough negotiations. However, on the day of the scheduled voting in Parliament, one of Besa's MPs, Kastriot Rexhepi, did not show up, and so the motion failed and the government survived. The aim was to create conditions for either a new parliamentary majority or new general elections. In the same month, there was an attempt by the new opposition formed by VMRO-DPMNE, Besa Movement, Alliance for Albanians, Alternative, and Levica to bring down the government with a vote of no confidence, counting on a majority of 61 out of 120 MPs in Skopje's parliament. Despite their favourable results in the local elections there, according to Besa, DUI wanted to take over the municipality through their officials in several state institutions. In November, the Besa Movement left the government composed of SDSM, DUI, DPA, and Levica after clashing with DUI partners over the rural municipality of Zelino, near Tetovo. The first outcome of the election results was the political marginalisation of Zoran Zaev, who first resigned from the position of leader of the ruling party (SDSM) and then from that of Prime Minister.

Eventually, a new government was elected in January 2022, but politicians and public figures remain doubtful about its ability to survive in the long run and successfully lead the country ahead. The results of the administrative elections of October 2021 in North Macedonia brought changes in the central government and a turbulent political situation of uncertain outcome.

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