The prime minister-designate for the composition of the new government, Dimitar Kovacevski in an interview with MIA expressed the expectation that with the new Prime Minister of Bulgaria, Kiril Petkov, who announced a visit to the country on January 18, will build a concrete and friendly relationship, with rhetoric between the two countries that will be at a high level.
During Petkov’s first visit to Skopje, Kovacevski expects to lay the groundwork for further talks and forms of co-operation and progress, as well as a breadth of action outside strictly historical frameworks and terms.
The new government is certainly in the final stage, what kind of profile of people had a place in the government of Dimitar Kovacevski?
Yes, we have been preparing the new Government intensively for the past weeks and we are already at the very end. We have realized all the meetings with the coalition partners for harmonization of the programs and the personnel decisions and I am satisfied with how the whole process went. Our goal of forming a stable government with clear principles of action has been met. Such a Government will mean efficiency in its work and stability in solving the serious challenges that lie ahead. In terms of personnel solutions, I would say that these are people who reflect the efficiency of work, have a serious professional capacity, honesty and desire to work for the citizens and society. Social democratic values and approach to politics are also a feature of the new team. These are people who believe in equality and solidarity, who fight for the rights of the vulnerable, and justice is their characteristic.
Which ministers are irreplaceable and will remain in the first echelon and in your government?
Everyone is interchangeable, especially if at some point he is no longer up to the task. It is a basic principle of effective governance and the new government will be guided by it. As for the new government and the departments that will be headed by SDSM, it is a team of new people, but also proven staff from the previous government who had good implementation and results in their departments. I expect from all of them maximum dedicated work, fulfillment of the promise and focus on the priorities of the program. The new government will be highly productive in its work, dedicated to economic challenges, as well as to strengthening the living standards of citizens. For this to be achieved by every member, every part of this engine must function flawlessly.
You are sitting at the head of the government at a time of serious challenges with the health and energy crisis, but also serious price increases from January 1. Does the government have a clear strategy on how to protect the standard of living of the citizens?
The primary focus in the next three months will be on our response to the energy crisis resulting from global movements. We already have a plan for that. I see in the crisis a chance, finally as a country to make an energy transition and to take a new direction for energy independence and self-sustainability. Such a transition will be based on renewable energy sources and the foundation of future development. This will be one of the main concerns of the government and the first decisions will be made immediately after its election.
Regarding the direct support for the citizens and the economy, we are preparing sets of anti-crisis measures that will give a strong stimulus to the companies and will be a support for the family budget of the citizens. I am aware of how economically exhausted everyone is by the crisis caused by the Covid pandemic which is now being upgraded by the energy crisis. But we have an answer as to how the Government. We already have experience with similar measures in the pandemic, which according to the IMF were well-sized and with which we protected more than 60.000 jobs. Both then and now, we are already working on defining measures through which the funds for rehabilitation and support will be most efficiently allocated where it is most needed. There are already 130 million euros free in the budget and in the next period anti-crisis measures will follow to help both the citizens and the economy.
You are considered a technocrat, and you yourself have repeatedly said that this government will be focused on the economy. Can you tell us more specifically what that means? What can citizens expect as a benefit from the new government in terms of economic standard?
This Government has the opportunity in the next 2,5 years, continuously and without election cycles, to fully dedicate itself to the economy and the quality of life of our citizens. The focus will be on implementing successful economic policies and setting an effective economic model for the new era. The government has already set excellent economic policies, but which require a much better implementation system than the current one. To this end, we will focus on a system of work and fulfillment of responsibilities and assumption of responsibilities. We need efficiency, effectiveness, positive outcomes and visible results.
With this kind of work, I expect continuous growth of the overall economy with rates of at least 4,6 percent to 5,9 percent per year. I announce a drastic increase in domestic private and corporate investments and the entry of foreign direct investments, but much more their connection with domestic companies.
We also focus on reducing unemployment, which we believe will finally be in single digits for the first time in history by the end of the mandate. This will significantly increase personal consumption.
The new government remains committed to raising salaries and pensions. We are doing the latest analysis of the time and amount of the increase in the minimum wage, and I announce that soon the average wage will exceed the amount of 500 euros per month and will continue to grow.
As for tax policy, it will remain the same by maintaining current tax rates and social security contributions. Both citizens and businesses must have a transparent, predictable and efficient tax system. But there will also be changes that must ultimately increase revenue by directly reducing the shadow economy and evasion. Everyone must pay taxes and there must be no exceptions.
Finally, I announce construction expansion in the area of significant infrastructure. In these 2,5 years, the largest sections of Corridor 8 and Corridor 10 must be completed, as well as the continuation of the reconstruction of the highways and regional roads. In 2,5 years, I expect the complete completion of the primary and secondary gas pipeline network throughout the country and setting the conditions for the start of use for households.
Finally, to achieve economic efficiency, as a government we are launching an uncompromising war on crime and corruption. It is important that officials are above all capable and responsible in performing their function. But in reality, each of them in politics is subject to temptation and pressure to do something illegal.
Hence, much more important than the selection of capable and honest staff is the existence of a system to control their work. We must prevent the untouchables from being brought to justice and anyone who has sinned to be held accountable. Only in this way will we restore the trust of the citizens in the country and the institutions. We have set really high goals, but I am sure that with a lot of work and effort we can achieve them.
A new wave starts with Covid 19, the numbers are growing in the last days, are new restrictions in sight like the countries in the region and Europe? When will you convene the GCCS to hear what the proposals of the Commission for Infectious Diseases are?
I am closely monitoring the situation, coordination with the Commission for Infectious Diseases and the Crisis Staff will be among the first activities of the new government. I believe that we have professional and competent health professionals who will inform me about every aspect of the crisis and together we will determine the steps and possible additional measures. Vaccination remains a priority and we need to further intensify it. The implementation of existing measures will also strengthen the fight against those who try to circumvent the law and health recommendations. Among the first things we must get is the analysis of how the new variant Omicron affects patients, which means the same in terms of hospitalization, mortality and all other indicators. The pandemic has so far proved to be very unpredictable, but we need all these indicators to make the most informed decisions in order to protect the health of citizens, but also to maintain normal work and life processes.
The Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov announced that he will visit you on January 18, are you ready, as Petkov says, to create the two – a new framework for negotiations?
The formation of new governments in our country and in Bulgaria gives a new chance and hope in the talks we have with our neighbor. We have already laid the groundwork for the talks, which give us a picture of where the negotiations have come to be and how we should proceed. I believe that we have learned lessons from the talks so far, and the past experience will help us to be more prepared and better in the negotiations. With the new Prime Minister Petkov, I expect that we will build a correct and friendly relationship, and the rhetoric between the two countries will be at a high level. That is a precondition for progress. The rapprochement and cooperation between the two countries in all areas of life is an important precondition for removing doubts and misconceptions. I am ready to open a new page in the relations with Bulgaria and to build a sincere friendship and a better future for both countries. The voice of hatred should be silenced. We really have more similarities than differences as countries and we have to concentrate on the common interest. Only with this approach will we be remembered as leaders who overcame the Balkan conflicts with a European approach. Through a policy of mutual respect, building a future, cooperation and compromise.
During the first visit of Prime Minister Petkov to Skopje, I expect that we will determine the bases for further talks and the forms of cooperation and progress, but also the scope of action outside the strictly historical framework and terms. We live in the 21st century in Europe and that obliges us as neighbors to mutual respect, partnership and friendship building. We have a huge potential for developing concrete cooperation in many areas: economy, infrastructure, tourism, education and culture, assistance in European integration and bringing our peoples and citizens closer. We need to reflect this potential in the tasks and challenges for the two governments, the companies from both countries, the two societies and all the important actors in them. We intend to essentially enter this process in order to have a result and lead to a logical convergence of positions and even to reach a point where Bulgaria will be the biggest supporter of our European integration. We achieved that with Greece, and I am sure that with good will and a lot of work we will succeed with Bulgaria as well.
What will you not give up in the negotiations with Bulgaria?
Bulgaria is an EU member state, and we are a candidate country for EU membership. It obliges us to negotiate on the basis of European values and principles according to which each country has joined the EU since the criteria for EU membership exist.
The right to self-determination and a separate identity and language is an inalienable right of every nation. Therefore, in the negotiations we can not make concessions that we are Macedonians from the Republic of Northern Macedonia who speak Macedonian and have a special identity. This is reflected in the Declaration, which was adopted by our Assembly with the support of all parties.
VMRO-DPMNE and the leader Mickoski accuse you that you have no legitimacy for the negotiations with Bulgaria and for leading the government, because you did not win the elections. How do you comment on these allegations? Also, will we finally see cooperation between the government and the opposition on key strategic issues in the interest of the citizens?
VMRO-DPMNE and Mickoski are obviously not well acquainted with the Constitution and the laws in the country. The new government not only has legitimacy, but also has an expanded and stable majority in Parliament. Hence, the Government has full legitimacy to make all decisions and implements the government program. Such accusations of VMRO-DPMNE are just a lack of other arguments against me, just like all the accompanying untruths in their daily statements. I am not worried about that at all, now I am fully focused on showing results, and even more well on managing all the crises that are ahead of us with the aim of economic stabilization and development. It is a responsible governance and attitude towards the citizens. What VMRO-DPMNE is doing is endless abuse of the media space for sowing lies, destabilizing and instilling insecurity in the citizens.
In terms of cooperation, I always have a helping hand, even though we are political opponents, we must not and should not be enemies. At the end of the day, we have the same and common responsibility as political actors to the citizens. But, according to the moves of VMRO-DPMNE so far, I do not see a change in them regarding this issue and in general in terms of policies. Let us not forget, VMRO-DPMNE is no longer the opposition as it was before the local elections. They currently manage half of the municipalities in the country. 100 days have passed since their rule and it can be easily seen that everything they promised in the campaign, they lied. They promised that there would be no revenge, and they started firing and degrading from the first day. Mass partisanship is implemented at every level as a single project of all mayors of VMRO-DPMNE. They promised a series of projects in the first days and there is literally nothing of that. The city of Skopje is a disappointment that is not remembered in the political history of the country. Everything that is in the interest of the citizens and started by the previous government is blocked and stopped. It is obvious that VMRO-DPMNE not only does not have any changes, but I would say that there are serious setbacks on certain issues and policies. SDSM monitors their work, we react in public and through our councilors to correct these harmful decisions, we will do everything in the interest of citizens and municipalities.
Source: MIA
