Macedonia faced with even greater challenges in 2017

The historic early parliamentary elections have ended. So has the election rerun in Tearce, with SDSM winning over VMRO-DPMNE. However, post-election Macedonia has entered into an even greater political crisis.

With the current distribution of seats won by VMRO-DPMNE-51, SDSM-49, DUI-10, Besa-5, Albanian Alliance-3 and DPA-2, it is impossible to form a stable government.

The parties and their leaders have the sole task of finding an ideal solution. As experts say, a solution for forming a new, reform, expert or broad based government that will lead the country to a final consolidation of the state institutions and to new parliamentary elections, at which a stable government of a stable state will be elected, pro-European oriented, free of criminals in politics, with a judiciary that is based on the law, and not on the will of party leaders, with finalized criminal cases of the Special Prosecutor’s Office (SPO) and with reforms in the broadcasting that will bring back to the scene objective, true and balanced information with professional journalists, and not with party followers.

Macedonia has started the new year of 2017 unreformed, in an even more complex political constellation, faced with many challenges.

Ninth Parliament constituted

The State Election Commission (SEC) handed over the certificates for the mandates of the 120 new MPs in the Macedonian Parliament. This composition of the Parliament has 62 new and 58 MPs from the previous composition.

Officially, the ninth in a row parliamentary composition of Macedonia has been constituted. The three leaders of the Przino four: Nikola Gruevski, Zoran Zaev and Ali Ahmeti were present, but the leader of DPA, Menduh Taci did not appear this time. The inaugural session was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps, religious communities, by Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev, although President Gjorgje Ivanov did not attend the session even though he was invited.

Once an agreement is reached on a new government coalition, the proposal for election of a new Parliament speaker will be reviewed.

The Przino government is already in the past 

The ministers and alternative ministers in the MOI and the MLSP who were appointed according to the Przino agreement, have been dismissed. New cadre has been appointed in their place, as was agreed by the leaders of the four relevant parties of the Macedonian and Albanian bloc, who with the support of the international community tailored the Przino Agreement.

Accordingly, Agim Nuhiu from DUI undertakes the duties of current Minister of Interior, Oliver Spasovski. Ibrahim Ibrahimi also from DUI is appointed in place of Frosina Tasevska-Remenski, Minister of Labor and Social Policy. Alternative deputy ministers from VMRO-DPMNE, Oliver Andonov and Dime Spasov, along with Kire Naumov from SDSM remain without a position.

This government composition started in November 2015, and with every election postponement, the old ministers were returned. But after a year ago when he resigned, Nikola Gruevski has not returned to his position, whereas Emil Dimitriev was appointed in his place.

Combinations for a new government, DUI holds all the “aces”

The leaders of the parties of the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, have been twice in 10 days, in Tirana, harmonizing their positions, and agreeing on a joint platform for better positions in the constitution of the new Macedonian government.

Amidst political post-election calculations and negotiations, leaders are still using delaying tactics. But, the leader of DUI, Ali Ahmeti has explicitly stated that if his platform is not accepted that the possibility of not forming a government is not excluded. According to him, the demands of the Albanian are reasonable and need to be settled.

The leaders of the two parties of the Macedonian bloc, VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, Nikola Gruevski and Zoran Zaev, have promised the citizens that they would form a government. Both Gruevski and Zaev seriously count on DUI as a partner in the new government.

The new government coalition will be crucial also for the work of the Special Prosecutor’s office, which during the course of its intensive work has opened 9 criminal cases: “Target”, “Titanic”, “Torture”, “TNT”, “Transporter”, “Fortress”, “Vault”, “Toplik” and “Tenders”.

International Community will congratulate the new government

The international community is closely monitoring the situation in Macedonia. However, as European Commission spokesperson Maja Kocijancic has said, it will make its post-election congratulations after the new government has been formed and a new prime minister elected. According to the international community, the work of the SPO and a court resolution for all criminal acts that will arise from the “Wiretapping” affair need to be imperative for the new government. This is one of the preconditions for Macedonia to return to the democratic and Euro-Atlantic path.

Monika Taleska