The centre-left SDSM successfully formed a government with members of the Albanian-interest parties DUI and Alliance for Albanians following prolonged negotiations.

The elections were called as part of an agreement brokered by the European Union to end the protests against the government of Nikola Gruevski.

[3] From 20 October 2015, a transitional government was installed including the two main parties, VMRO-DPMNE and the Social Democratic Union (SDSM).

[10] These talks were also blocked by VMRO-DPMNE President Gjorge Ivanov over fears of "a loss of sovereignty" to Albanians under the proposed government.

[13] Protestors, who opposed the election of the first Albanian-speaker of Parliament, Talat Xhaferi, targeted MPs who belonged to Albanian-interest parties and the SDSM.