Branko Crvenkovski

Branko Crvenkovski (Бранко Црвенковски, pronounced ; born 12 October 1962) is a Macedonian politician who served as the 3rd President of Macedonia from 2004 to 2009. He previously served as Prime Minister of Macedonia from 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 to 2004.

A former member of the League of Communists of Macedonia (SKM), Crvenkovski founded the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) in 1991, the legal successor of the SKM. He was the SDSM's leader on two occasions.

Background and earlier career
Crvenkovski was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, then part of Yugoslavia.

In 1986 he obtained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Automation from the School of Electrical Engineering at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje.

He was elected member of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia at the first multi-party elections in Yugoslavia in 1990 after serving for several years as head of department at the Semos company in Skopje. A former communist, Crvenkovski founded the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia in April 1991.

Prime Minister of Macedonia
On 5 September 1992, Crvenkovski became Macedonia's second prime minister after its secession from Yugoslavia and continued in the post for another four years following the December 1994 elections.

He served as Prime Minister from 1992 to 1998 and from 2002 until 2004. He was most recently elected in 2002 after his Social Democratic Union of Macedonia party won the parliamentary elections.

In July 1997 he ordered that Albanian flags in front of government buildings in western part of Macedonia be removed. The situation escalated with one person dead and many injured. In 2005, on his initiative, the Albanian flag was legalized.

Presidency (2004–2009)
Crvenkovski won the April 2004 presidential election against Saško Kedev and took office on 12 May 2004. He then resigned as Prime Minister.

Crvenkovski did not run for a second term in the March 2009 presidential election. Instead, he returned to his party and was elected to be the head of the party on 24 May 2009.

Honours and awards

 * Branko Crvenkovski is an Honorary Member of Raoul Wallenberg Foundation.