Kacarska: Ivanov has no right to pardon 

Judge Dobrila Kacarska said that the leader of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, can put his mind at ease now because she has no more verdicts. She added that the decision for Igor Durlovski is the most difficult acquittal she has ever had. Kacarska also stressed that President Gjorge Ivanov in this phase, before the elections, has no right to announce amnesty, but that as a citizen of the state and a judge she hopes that he will not do it.

For now, only Blerim Reka has submitted his candidacy to the SEC

Presidential candidates need to submit their candidacies to the State Election Commission no later than midnight Thursday. Independent candidate Blerim Reka yesterday submitted his candidacy with the collected signatures, who is supported by the opposition parties the Alliance for the Albanians and Besa. The candidate of SDSM and the coalition, Stevo Pendarovski and VMRO-DPMNE candidate Gordana Siljanovska – Davkova have still not submitted their candidacies.

CIVIL concludes inconsistencies, irregularities and negative incidences in the election process

Based on CIVIL’s long-term monitoring, it has been concluded that the presidential elections campaign has started long ago, even though the law anticipates for the campaign to start on April 1, three weeks before election day. Structural violence, hate speech, fake news, corruption, unlawful political financing, abuse of authority, vote-buying, pressures, threats and blackmail have been part of the pre-election folklore in previous election processes. CIVIL notes that many previous weaknesses, irregularities and fraudulent practices in the election processes have been partially overcome with the new Electoral Code, the strengthening of some of the relevant institutions and other reform steps.

Elections chronicle  

CIVIL, from today, is starting to run an “elections chronicle” on the pre-election activities of the presidential candidates and the structures that support them, with the purpose of detecting irregularities in the pre-election campaign, which is part of the pre-election monitoring of the organization.

The “Mercedes” will not be sold for new ambulance vehicles

Government spokesperson Mile Boshnjakovski stated that the 600.000 euros “Mercedes” that was procured when VMRO-DPMNE were in power, is still part of the court procedure “Tank” and that they will decide on it after the procedure ends. As Boshnjakovski emphasized, selling of the “Mercedes” for the ambulance vehicles should not be requested.

He added that the Government will procure 12 new ambulance vehicles, while eight vehicles will be reassigned from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The SCPC will be investigating about the “Matka” case

The State Commission for Prevention of Corruption has opened a new case for two new employments in the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services that have happened during the election process. The SCPC have decided to carry out an investigation also about the suspicions in the public regarding the “Matka” case, and they will be checking if there is abuse and unlawful action in the Municipality of Saraj.

Norway has started the procedure for ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol for North Macedonia

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today met with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, Arne Sannes Bjornstad, during which the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries were highlighted, and the Prespa Agreement was welcomed as a good model for resolving disputes in the region. They also spoke about the process of the country’s membership in NATO and about the reforms that are aimed at accelerating the integration into the European Union.

Norway has already started the procedure for ratification of the NATO Accession Protocol for North Macedonia in their Parliament and supports the full membership of our country in the North Atlantic Alliance.

House arrest for Stevco Jakimovski 

The court has ordered house arrest for the President of the party GROM and former Mayor of the Municipality of Karpos, Stevco Jakimovski. Jakimovski yesterday was detained together with two employees of the municipality on suspicion of abuse of office and authority and for the criminal act of illegal construction.

D. Muratov