North Macedonia declares state of emergency ahead of vote

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia’s president has declared an eight-day state of emergency ahead of an early national election after the country’s main political leaders agreed the vote will be held on July 15. President Stevo Pendarovski issued the decree late Monday and it came into force immediately. His office said the decision would let authorities make the necessary preparations to ensure public health is protected during the campaign and voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. The tiny Balkan country is grappling with another spike of infections after lockdown restrictions were relaxed last month. Health authorities have announced 103 new confirmed cases Monday and five deaths, bringing the total cases to 4,157 and the death toll to 193.