by: XHABIR DERALLA
Zaev just can’t seem to take off his shoes with which he is making seven-mile steps through the Macedonian political jungle. VMRO is still stumbling after the knockout, after Zaev himself called for vote of confidence in the Government (a worldwide precedent). Following several months of threats by Mickoski that he is a step away from a parliamentary majority, not only did it show that there is no such thing, but rather that the opposition did not find the strength or courage to raise a single red card in Parliament, hence losing 62:0 in Zaev’s short political rush. Humbly, without rejoicing, Zaev accepted this political victory (one more in the long sequence), and without hesitance threw another bomb in order to put the Macedonian trench politics into motion. He gave a German flavour to the Macedonian politics. One more precedent!
GOVERNMENT OF NATIONAL UNITY! With a parliamentary mandate just confirmed, with more than three years of governing ahead of him, Zaev has widely opened the doors of his government to the opposition. Certainly, for those with whom matters can be discussed, and at the same, logically, singled out Mickoski and disqualified him. This, I would like to believe, means the entire group around the throne in the party’s commanding tower, which has not given up its dark past (and presence) for a single moment.
Why would Zaev do this? What are the dangers to the democracy and progress? How will a government in which VMRO is in, reflect on the essential reforms related to justice, education, the integration processes and the concept “One society for all”?
First, it will be a process. Through that process, vmro’s will also be given a chance to make a time leap from the 19th to the 21st century, to save themselves and to become a real European conservative party, and not a burrow of ultranationalists, bullies with criminal records and anti-Western propagandists. This certainly will put into motion the other political burrows as well, on both sides of the political front, because EVERY PARTY WILL HAVE TO GIVE ITS BEST in order to participate in a government of national unity.
For two decades we have been writing and raising initiatives and projects for political reconciliation and dialogue. Finally, someone has appeared to specifically propose this at the highest political level. Once again, regardless of the comfortable position he is in, with a mandate of three more years ahead of him!
What will be achieved with a Government of National Salvation? First, legislative processes of high strategic importance for the entire country will be unblocked, most of all, the reforms that we are all anticipating, in order to come out of the shadow of the regime and isolation. Furthermore, the responsibility for the most difficult and most important state projects will be shared, and thus the credits of the success. That way, conditions will be created for overcoming the political schizophrenia from which VMRO has been suffering for decades, and perhaps will free itself from the claws of the anti-democratic centers of power. The party that Ljubco Georgievski formed at the end of the 80’s of the last century will save itself from further sinking and will have a chance to be a state-builder.
Under the condition that the ramp of neo-fascists and criminogenic elements in parliament is lowered, a Government of national unity (or salvation, however one prefers) will move the country in the direction of uniting around European values. Such a government will find the best solutions for overcoming the Covid-crisis without unnecessary hindering for gaining dirty political profit.
Real debates will open on the table, in government and in parliament, without evil blood, while black propaganda and Facebook / Twitter wars of words will calm down. With such a government, a possibility is opened for everyone together to accept and support, and thus be also credited for determining the strategic directions of the country (Prespa Agreement, EU, NATO, anti-nationalism, rule of law and respect for human rights and freedoms…).
The decades-long cooperation of inviolable German Chancellor Angela Merkel (until recently head of the Christian-democratic CDU) with the Social Democrats (SPD) is the best example of how politics can unite the people and bring colossal, historic successes to Germany in every sense of the word.
Is this offer of Zaev too unusual? No, it’s not. He has included cadre that is not just from his party in the two government structures he has led from mid-2017 until now. There are many experts and leaders from the civic sector around him, such as Bojan Maricic, Marjan Zabrcanec, Mila Carovska, Irena Stefoska and many others. Zaev showed his broadness also by placing people from political parties that are scattered throughout the whole political compass. Accordingly, Nikola Dimitrov is actually from the lines of VMRO. Such is the example also with Venko Filipce. Ljube Boskovski (United for Macedonia, ex-VMRO) is part of Zaev’s Cabinet as well. He has proven to be ultra-open, not to say too generous also towards the coalition partners, especially towards the smaller ones, which these days have “decorated” themselves with the status “independent” in parliament.
Are there dangers? Yes. The values, determinations, strategic directions and projects that will be put on the negotiating table for forming such a government, for national unity/salvation, will also show how our country will further move forward. Multiculturalism (One society for all), equality, inclusiveness, unconditional respect for human rights and freedoms…. In short, uniting around European and green values, without conditioning and trading with the spirit of multiculturalism and progress – that will give a German character to this great idea.
It’s those who claim they are interested in the Macedonian state interests and not in political profit, money and power, turn to make a move.
translation: N. Cvetkovska
