PENPIX-Key figures in Macedonia's June 1 election

June 1 (Reuters) - Macedonians vote on Sunday for a government that will be asked to get the country's NATO bid back on track, start accession talks with the European Union and calm tensions after weeks of violence between ethnic Albanian parties.

Here are brief portraits of the main figures in the June 1 parliamentary election:

* NIKOLA GRUEVSKI, 37, VMRO-DPMNE

Orientation: Technocrat, populist, conservative

Biography: Gruevski and his team of young, foreign-educated technocrats took power from the Social Democrats following an election in 2006.

A former finance minister, Gruevski succeeded former nationalist leader Ljubco Georgievski, who was in office during a 2001 Albanian insurgency. Seen as hard-working and committed to reform, Gruevski is one of the country's most popular politicians.

Promises: Not to change the name of the country under Greek pressure, push on with reforms to secure EU talks, revitalise the economy and banish corruption.

Quote: "Others promise, we achieve. In two years we achieved more than the others did in 17 years."

Slogan: 'Macedonia knows! The rebirth continues.'

Latest poll figures: 26.1 percent

* RADMILA SEKERINSKA, 35, Social-Democratic Union

Orientation: Centre-left, moderate liberal, pro-Western

Biography: Sekerinska took over after the party lost the 2006 election. Despite her credentials in leading Macedonia's efforts to get EU candidate status, she is struggling to come out from under the shadow of President Branko Crvenkovski, one of the party's founders.

Promises: A date for starting accession talks by year-end, and an invitation to join NATO; attract foreign investment, create jobs, improve healthcare and education.

Quote: "I rarely give promises. But I can promise you that within six months we will have a date for negotiations with the EU and an invitation to join NATO."

Slogan: "The sun is coming"

Latest poll figures: 9.9 percent

* ALI AHMETI, 49, Democratic Union for Integration

Orientation: Centre-left, populist, nationalist

Biography: Ahmeti is a hero to many ethnic Albanians for leading guerrillas in a 2001 insurgency, but Macedonians say he grabbed land and power at gunpoint. He entered politics after the peace deal, consistently polling highest among Albanians. Fuming at being left out of Gruevski's coalition in favour of another Albanian party, Ahmeti said the move was a betrayal of the Albanian vote.

Promises: Recognition of Kosovo; a new law on the use of the Albanian language and flag; benefits for guerrilla fighters.

Quote: "We will not allow a repeat of 2006. We will not allow Albanian votes to be abused."

Slogan: "With us, you are a winner"

Latest poll figures: 9.5 percent

* MENDUH THACI, 43, Democratic Party of Albanians

Orientation: Centre-right, moderate conservative

Biography: In 2007, he took over the party that had played second fiddle to Ahmeti's DUI since 2001 and then entered into a coalition with Gruevski in 2006. He remains on a U.S. black list of figures accused of destabilising the Balkans, but has been working hard to improve his image to broadly pro-Western.

Promises: Full implementation of the 2001 peace deal; more jobs for Albanians, greater use of their flag and language.

Quote: "Our future is in NATO and the European Union. We will not walk over the blood of our fallen fighters."

Slogan: "Long life!"

Latest poll figures: 4.7 percent (Writing by Kole Casule and Ellie Tzortzi; Editing by David Fogarty)