The constitutional deadline to form a government expires in a week. However, it seems as if though on the Macedonian political scene the leader of DUI, Ali Ahmeti, has taken over the role of a designate, instead of the leader of VMRO-DPMNE Nikola Gruevski, who received the mandate from President Gjorgje Ivanov. Last week Ahmeti, in addition to the regular negotiations with Gruevski, also had his first meeting with SDSM leader Zoran Zaev.
This indeed increases the uncertainty on whether the negotiations between VMRO-DPMNE and DUI (which acquired the trust to negotiate on behalf of the signatories of the Platform – DUI, Besa and the Alliance for the Albanians) will be successful.
The negotiations between VMRO-DPMNE and DUI mainly rotate around two issues: the extension of the mandate of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) and bilingualism. According to information that is presented to the public through announcements, VMRO-DPMNE is categorically against, while for DUI these are two crucial demands of the platform. But, following the meetings and Ahmeti’s consultations with representatives of the diplomatic corps, he has put SDSM on his political agenda. After the meeting Zaev-Ahmeti, SDSM announced that only the positions of the parties were defined, but also announced that there would be new meetings.
The Prime Minister and Ministers-MPs are violating the Constitution!
The mandates of Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Poposki, Minister of Health Nikola Todorov and Minister of Culture Elizabeta Kanceska Mileska should be revoked and they should be held responsible! According to legal experts, all four of them are violating the Constitution and the law, starting from the day their mandate was verified at the first constitutive session of Parliament.
The uncertainty in regards to the new government has even produced rumors that President Gjorgje Ivanov will resign, should Gruevski’s attempts to form a government be unsuccessful. There has been no response from Ivanov’s office, though experts point out that even this possible move by Ivanov would not be a legal obstacle to forming a government, as the decision for transferring the mandate to another designate would be made by the Parliament.
“Desorosization” is VMRO-DPMNE’s new tool
Instead of partly reformed, post-election VMRO-DPMNE has come up with a new tool – “desorosization” of Macedonia. Party leader and current designate Gruevski, who promoted “desorosization” for the first time in front of his party colleagues before the SEC during the fierce protests of VMRO-DPMNE, now continues his agenda.
Despite the avalanche of reactions from civil society, as a response to this decision of the Executive Committee, which is part of the party Proclamation, the civil movement “Stop Soros Operation” (SOS) was formed. For part of civil society, these moves of VMRO-DPMNE are partly in the direction of defocusing the public from the current events. However, the civil movement SOS has promoted its objective – “for the civil society sector to free itself from the monopolizing of the Open Society Institute Foundation that has taken place in recent years”.
Developments in Macedonia and their reflection in neighboring countries
The current events in Macedonia have stirred the bilateral relations with its neighboring countries. The recent statements made by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania, Datmir Bushati, who called Macedonians “Slav Macedonians”, were also followed by sharp comments by former Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev.
“Macedonia should join the European Union, but Macedoniansim should not!”, said Plevneliev, assessing macedonianism as an Anti-Bulgarian and anti-democratic ideology.
Furthermore, at tolls stations in Republic of Serbia, the FYROM reference appeared instead of the constitutional name of Macedonia. This follows the statement given by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ivica Dacic, that Serbia had made a mistake in recognizing Macedonia under its constitutional name.
Rapporteur for Macedonia in the European Parliament Ivo Vajgl urged Balkan leaders to take responsibility for the stability of the region, and to focus on the European integration. The messages are directed to Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and to Bosnia and Herzegovina, though Vajgl does not point out individuals or events.
Monika Taleska
