CIVIL Panel Discussion: “Headless Macedonia”

Republic of Macedonia currently finds itself in a political situation that is complex. It is almost certain that DUI will not form a new government with VMRO-DPMNE. However, one must also take into consideration the fact that DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, in all of the years of political marriage with VMRO-DPMNE, did not work on the realization of the Ohrid Framework Agreement that was signed in 2001.According to some of the panelists at today’s discussion titled “Headless Macedonia” that was organized by CIVIL – Center for Freedom, the responsibility will remain with SDSM, which will probably form a new government with DUI, with new parliamentary elections following after two years.

But until then, SDSM needs to make all the moves in a matured manner in order for Macedonia to return to the democratic path and to strengthen the institutions. On the other hand, Macedonia has distanced from the Euro-Atlantic agenda, which for the current coalition in power was more of a declarative commitment. In order for the country to return to its Euro-Atlantic path, which for Macedonia is inevitable both politically and geostrategically, a common vision of the new government needs to be agreed, and the priorities after that. As a strenuous agenda will await Macedonia once more with many challenges after the new government is formed.

These were the main talking points of today’s panel discussion “Headless Macedonia”, which CIVIL organized within the framework of the project “Forward!” in the City Park Hotel in Skopje. The hashtag of today’s panel discussion was #unheaded, and panelist speakers included Dr. Saso Ordanoski, political analyst and university professor, Dr.Malinka Ristevska Jordanova from the European Policy Institute and Ramadan Ramadani, university professor and columnist for the weekly magazine “Focus”.

Panel Discussion “Headless Macedonia”

The moderators at today’s panel discussion, Diana Tahiri and Marija Tegovska, opened the following three issues before representatives of embassies, of political parties, civil society activists and media representatives: “Coalition combinations”, “Ethnic (dis)balance” and “Are EU and NATO an option for Macedonia?”.

In his introductory speech on the topic “Coalition combinations”, Dr. Saso Ordanoski said that there is no dilemma that in Macedonia a government is being prepared between DUI and SDSM.

“The path for the coalition between DUI and SDSM has no alternative. SDSM has to be mature enough to respond, in order for us to arrive to another Macedonia, for which we in the civil society sector are advocating for. It is just a matter of performance that has to be endured. Yesterday, DUI came out with a statement that it has no preferred party with which it would form a coalition. Ali Ahmeti in the political sense is history. I am very sorry that he did not leave politics when he was still at the top. We will have election again in two years in Macedonia”, said Dr. Ordanoski.

Professor Ramadani predicted two possible coalition combinations: “SPO-Government or Halkidiki-Government. The first one, SPO-Government, is the first reaction of the EU, which supports such a government, to implement the reforms and to ensure unhindered work of the SPO. And I believe that this is what eventually awaits us at the end of the day or month. The second option is to immediately, like in the past, form a government of VMRO-DPMNE and DUI, which because of the mystery and indistinctness, we poetically call it Halkidiki-Government”.

According to Dr. Ristevska Jordanova a quick EU accession cannot be promised.

“The fact is that even though the rule of law is declaratively highlighted, in reality geopolitics have a huge role and so will the security issues. We cannot expect a quick accession. And the membership in the EU will not have such an attractive power as it had until now. It is upon us to fight for European values, and not expect someone else to come and give us all the solutions”.

Monika Taleska