Zaev

Zaev is a surname of Macedonian origin. Notable people with the surname include Zoran Zaev, a Macedonian politician who led the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and served as prime minister of North Macedonia from 2017 to 2022.

During his premiership, Zaev pursued reforms aimed at aligning the country with European Union norms and institutions. His government concluded the Prespa Agreement with Greece in 2018, resolving a long-standing naming dispute by renaming the country as the Republic of North Macedonia. The agreement enabled North Macedonia to advance its bid for EU membership and to join NATO; North Macedonia became a member of NATO in 2020, and EU accession talks began in the same year.

Zaev's tenure faced internal and external challenges, including domestic political polarization and corruption allegations within the government. After national elections in 2021, he announced his resignation as prime minister in late 2021/early 2022 and was succeeded in the role by Dimitar Kovačevski, also from SDSM, while continuing to lead the party.