Showing posts with label SDSM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SDSM. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Macedonian parliament speaker survives no confidence vote
Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski survived a no confidence vote Saturday (July 10th) with 68 lawmakers backing him and 14 opposed, after marathon debates. The motion was filed by the main opposition party SDSM over a July 1st incident at the parliament building. The SDSM accuses the police of spying on their activities after a police agent tried to record their conversation with a group of disgruntled workers. That led to verbal exchanges, pushing and shoving. The SDSM accused Veljanoski of failing to defend the institution and of preventing the establishment of an inquiry committee to investigate the incident.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Macedonian Opposition Rallies For Snap Polls
Macedonia’s biggest opposition party, the Social Democrats, along with thousands of supporters, began its battle for early general elections at a rally on Sunday evening in front of the government building in Skopje.
The party called for the parliament to be dissolved directly following the NATO summit scheduled for November. Elections before that date could harm the country’s chances to join the alliance and make progress in its EU bid if there is a breakthrough in the name talks with Greece, party representatives said.
"Regardless of the outcome of the NATO Summit, whether the negotiations with Greece are successful or not, our goal in November will be for the Assembly to disband so that we can get out and meet the citizens [at elections]," the head of the Social Democrats, Branko Crvenkovski, said at the rally.
Before some 30 thousand supporters gathered under the slogan” We Are For Winning Macedonia”, Crvenkovski accused the ruling centre-right VMRO DPMNE party of ruining the country’s prospects.
The SDSM meeting was held in front of the Governmnt building
The country's EU and NATO bids are blocked, the economy is shattered, citizens' rights have been set back and interethnic relations are deteriorating, Crvenkovski claimed. The opposition leader sent a message to Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski that he will be held accountable for allowing crime and robbery to infiltrate the state during his term.
Crvenkovski blamed the government for not doing enough to solve the name spat. He said that a more pragmatic approach rather than Gruevski’s “false patriotism” would do more to help untie the long standing problem.
“Faced with defeat and failure on all fronts, unable to achieve any results, Gruevski decided to play on a single card of dividing patriots from traitors,” the opposition leader said. "Gruevski and the VMRO-DPMNE persistently paint a false picture of themselves- that they are the only ones who defend the constitutional name. This is an absolute lie. No Macedonian wants to change the country's constitutional name.”
Crvenkovski condemned Greece for abusing its veto rights as a member of NATO and the EU to block Macedonia’s bids to join the same structures. He said this was an “unfair, undemocratic and non-European policy” towards Macedonia.
The opposition rally comes after many announcements that the party would increase its activity and was seen as a barometer of the party's current strength.
After his return to the party helm last year, Crvenkovski announced reforms to the political grouping, which has lost every consecutive general, presidential and local election in the country since 2006. He now promised that the party is reformed, internally stronger and more democratic, honest and open to the people.
Opposition sympathizers
Various other smaller opposition parties, some civil initiatives and representatives of farmers, sacked workers and others joined the meeting.
The Social Democrats and their coalition partners currently hold some 30 seats in the 120 seat parliament, while VMRO DPMNE has roughly double that number. Various opinion polls show that the party at the moment has considerably less popularity than VMRO DPMNE but Crvenkovski and his party colleagues said they are confident they will seal an election victory.
The party called for the parliament to be dissolved directly following the NATO summit scheduled for November. Elections before that date could harm the country’s chances to join the alliance and make progress in its EU bid if there is a breakthrough in the name talks with Greece, party representatives said.
"Regardless of the outcome of the NATO Summit, whether the negotiations with Greece are successful or not, our goal in November will be for the Assembly to disband so that we can get out and meet the citizens [at elections]," the head of the Social Democrats, Branko Crvenkovski, said at the rally.
Before some 30 thousand supporters gathered under the slogan” We Are For Winning Macedonia”, Crvenkovski accused the ruling centre-right VMRO DPMNE party of ruining the country’s prospects.
The SDSM meeting was held in front of the Governmnt building
The country's EU and NATO bids are blocked, the economy is shattered, citizens' rights have been set back and interethnic relations are deteriorating, Crvenkovski claimed. The opposition leader sent a message to Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski that he will be held accountable for allowing crime and robbery to infiltrate the state during his term.
Crvenkovski blamed the government for not doing enough to solve the name spat. He said that a more pragmatic approach rather than Gruevski’s “false patriotism” would do more to help untie the long standing problem.
“Faced with defeat and failure on all fronts, unable to achieve any results, Gruevski decided to play on a single card of dividing patriots from traitors,” the opposition leader said. "Gruevski and the VMRO-DPMNE persistently paint a false picture of themselves- that they are the only ones who defend the constitutional name. This is an absolute lie. No Macedonian wants to change the country's constitutional name.”
Crvenkovski condemned Greece for abusing its veto rights as a member of NATO and the EU to block Macedonia’s bids to join the same structures. He said this was an “unfair, undemocratic and non-European policy” towards Macedonia.
The opposition rally comes after many announcements that the party would increase its activity and was seen as a barometer of the party's current strength.
After his return to the party helm last year, Crvenkovski announced reforms to the political grouping, which has lost every consecutive general, presidential and local election in the country since 2006. He now promised that the party is reformed, internally stronger and more democratic, honest and open to the people.
Opposition sympathizers
Various other smaller opposition parties, some civil initiatives and representatives of farmers, sacked workers and others joined the meeting.
The Social Democrats and their coalition partners currently hold some 30 seats in the 120 seat parliament, while VMRO DPMNE has roughly double that number. Various opinion polls show that the party at the moment has considerably less popularity than VMRO DPMNE but Crvenkovski and his party colleagues said they are confident they will seal an election victory.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Gay backlash over Macedonia's anti-discrimination law
Macedonia's new anti-discrimination law sparked controversy on Friday, as gay activists and the European Union criticised the bill for not including sexual orientation discrimination.
The new law, adopted by a slim majority of 62 deputies in the 120-seat parliament late Thursday, is not in line with European standards, a representative of the EU delegation in Skopje told AFP.
The bill which lists some 20 bases for discrimination but leaves sexual orientation out of that list makes Macedonia "the only country in the region that has a non-European anti-discrimination law," the official said.
Ahead of the vote deputies of the biggest opposition group, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), walked out in protest because the amendments including sexual orientation were not added.
Both the EU and the opposition urged the Macedonian government in vain to delay the vote so the draft could be changed.
There are very few openly gay people in Macedonia as the society treats them with deep suspicion. Despite several attempt to organise a gay pride parade in the capital Skopje no more than a handful of people showed up last year.
Even gay organisations prefer to present themselves as associations for marginalised people.
Slavco Dimitrov, leader of a coalition for protection of marginalised groups' rights, said the law was sending "a wrong message to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) population as the government has been ignoring them."
"The government refuses to provide equal status to all citizens and instead of taking affirmative measures for the protection of human rights it has created a flagrant homophobic atmosphere in the process of adopting this law," Dimitrov told AFP.
According to the government the rights of gays and others discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation will still be protected by the law even if they are not explicitly mentioned.
"The law will protect all the citizens of this country against discrimination," ruling coalition deputy Silvana Boneva said.
Although "sexual orientation was not listed as a basis of discrimination it does not exclude such discrimination," she insisted.
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005, but has yet to open accession talks.
The new law, adopted by a slim majority of 62 deputies in the 120-seat parliament late Thursday, is not in line with European standards, a representative of the EU delegation in Skopje told AFP.
The bill which lists some 20 bases for discrimination but leaves sexual orientation out of that list makes Macedonia "the only country in the region that has a non-European anti-discrimination law," the official said.
Ahead of the vote deputies of the biggest opposition group, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), walked out in protest because the amendments including sexual orientation were not added.
Both the EU and the opposition urged the Macedonian government in vain to delay the vote so the draft could be changed.
There are very few openly gay people in Macedonia as the society treats them with deep suspicion. Despite several attempt to organise a gay pride parade in the capital Skopje no more than a handful of people showed up last year.
Even gay organisations prefer to present themselves as associations for marginalised people.
Slavco Dimitrov, leader of a coalition for protection of marginalised groups' rights, said the law was sending "a wrong message to the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) population as the government has been ignoring them."
"The government refuses to provide equal status to all citizens and instead of taking affirmative measures for the protection of human rights it has created a flagrant homophobic atmosphere in the process of adopting this law," Dimitrov told AFP.
According to the government the rights of gays and others discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation will still be protected by the law even if they are not explicitly mentioned.
"The law will protect all the citizens of this country against discrimination," ruling coalition deputy Silvana Boneva said.
Although "sexual orientation was not listed as a basis of discrimination it does not exclude such discrimination," she insisted.
Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005, but has yet to open accession talks.
Monday, February 08, 2010
Opposition parties in Macedonia join forces
Twelve political parties in Macedonia signed a co-operation agreement last week with the common aim of toppling Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the coalition making up his ruling VMRO-DPMNE government.
"Our utmost objective is to defeat the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition," said coalition leader Branko Crvenkovski as the new bloc was announced in Skopje on February 1st. Crvenkovski, a former Macedonian president, said the wide range of parties have put their differences aside for the good of the nation at a critical time.
Symbolically called The Front, the multiparty union is led by Crvenkovski's Social Democratic Union for Macedonia (SDSM). The coalition is comprised of a wide range of current allies and former rivals -- from the left, the ultra-left and communists, to the dominant centre.
Their single aim is to topple the ruling centre-right coalition, which has been in power since the parliamentary elections of July 2006. Observers are generally sceptical that The Front will accomplish its goal anytime soon, pointing to polls that suggest the Gruevski government remains very popular with the public.
The Liberal Democrats -- vehemently criticising Gruevski while continuing their challenges to Crvenkovski -- did not join The Front. Also declining was the Democratic Party of Albanians, led by Menduh Thaci.
Ljube Boskovski, 49, is a former interior minister in Gruevski's ruling government. Acquitted of war crimes in connection with the 2001 torture and murder of ethnic Albanians in the village of Ljuboten, Boskovski is now a fierce critic of Gruevski.
New Alternative leader Gjorgi Orovcanec spoke to the crowd at the signing of the multiparty agreement, saying that the Gruevski government had not delivered on any of its promises.
"We do not have any investments, we do not have any money, we do not have any production, we do not have any friends."
Gruevski would not comment on the challenge now rallied against him, saying only that he has no fear of losing power.
Analysts have pointed out that only a small number of voters lean towards most of the parties who have signed on to The Front.
Professor Jove Kekenovski says the united opposition's impact is mostly psychological, while political expert Albert Musliu applauds a consolidated opposition as a corrective to the current government.
"Our utmost objective is to defeat the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition," said coalition leader Branko Crvenkovski as the new bloc was announced in Skopje on February 1st. Crvenkovski, a former Macedonian president, said the wide range of parties have put their differences aside for the good of the nation at a critical time.
Symbolically called The Front, the multiparty union is led by Crvenkovski's Social Democratic Union for Macedonia (SDSM). The coalition is comprised of a wide range of current allies and former rivals -- from the left, the ultra-left and communists, to the dominant centre.
Their single aim is to topple the ruling centre-right coalition, which has been in power since the parliamentary elections of July 2006. Observers are generally sceptical that The Front will accomplish its goal anytime soon, pointing to polls that suggest the Gruevski government remains very popular with the public.
The Liberal Democrats -- vehemently criticising Gruevski while continuing their challenges to Crvenkovski -- did not join The Front. Also declining was the Democratic Party of Albanians, led by Menduh Thaci.
Ljube Boskovski, 49, is a former interior minister in Gruevski's ruling government. Acquitted of war crimes in connection with the 2001 torture and murder of ethnic Albanians in the village of Ljuboten, Boskovski is now a fierce critic of Gruevski.
New Alternative leader Gjorgi Orovcanec spoke to the crowd at the signing of the multiparty agreement, saying that the Gruevski government had not delivered on any of its promises.
"We do not have any investments, we do not have any money, we do not have any production, we do not have any friends."
Gruevski would not comment on the challenge now rallied against him, saying only that he has no fear of losing power.
Analysts have pointed out that only a small number of voters lean towards most of the parties who have signed on to The Front.
Professor Jove Kekenovski says the united opposition's impact is mostly psychological, while political expert Albert Musliu applauds a consolidated opposition as a corrective to the current government.
Who is the opponent of VMRO-DPMNE-left or right wing?
The coming parliamentary elections in Macedonia will be held under the sing of the fight in the left wing, Macedonian Utrinski vesnik writes. This is what former functionary of VMRO-DPMNE prognosticated. The party remained outside the coalitional front of the opposition, not joined by the VMRO-People’s Party as well. The two right parties have explained this with ideological differences and announced they will run independently at the coming elections, the edition reads further. It noted the non-entire unification of the opposition rises the issue who will be the main opponent of the VMRO-DPMNE at the coming general elections-Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) or one of the parties, which have derived from the VMRO-DPMNE.
Sunday, February 07, 2010
There is no logic early elections to be held in Macedonia: SDSM leader
According to the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) everything is possible, even early elections to be held in the spring, Alsat-M television informs. According to the leader of the party Branko Crvenkovski, the government of the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski generates an atmosphere of uncertainty and lack of vision on which path Macedonia should take as a country.
“We see lots of populist projects over which some analyzers assess early elections are prepared. However, I am convinced we all make mistakes-analyzers, intellectuals, media and the opposition because our logic is different from Gruevski’s. We cannot suppose what Gruevski is preparing. Macedonia has become a country in which everything is possible and impossible at the same time. There is no logic early elections to be held but they could be. Macedonia becomes a country of the uncertainty, without clear path,” Crvenkovski said further.
“We see lots of populist projects over which some analyzers assess early elections are prepared. However, I am convinced we all make mistakes-analyzers, intellectuals, media and the opposition because our logic is different from Gruevski’s. We cannot suppose what Gruevski is preparing. Macedonia has become a country in which everything is possible and impossible at the same time. There is no logic early elections to be held but they could be. Macedonia becomes a country of the uncertainty, without clear path,” Crvenkovski said further.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
SDSM seeks Conflict as Only Way to Power
We have already reported that Macedonia's opposition, namely the SDSM, have created over 60 bogus NGOs whose job is to either create tensions among different minorities, or badmouth their own country in Brussels.
Through their privately controlled media, only recently the SDSM announced a poll where they had supposedly 'increased' their popularity to 17% while the ruling coalition went down to 18%. The SDSM boasted their 'success', until they were silenced by the IRI Institute who only days later announced the Ruling coalition enjoyed a ratio of 2.5:1 popularity over the opposition.
Though we normally refuse to report fake polling results, particularly when they come from bogus NGOs organizations formed days ago, we'd made one exception today, so we can all witness how low and what Crvenkovski is prepared to do to return to power.
Today, an organization calling itself "Center for interethnic tolerance and refugees" stated that Macedonia has never been as close to civil war as is today. This 'news' spread throughout the SDSM controlled media like firestorm with A1, Utrinski, Vreme, Vest, Dnevnik all placing it as "top news".
Bizarre polling
The supposed number of people asked is an unusually high number of 6500 respondents of different ethnic communities in more than 26 settlements around the country. There is no other information on the methodology of which the survey was conducted. There is no data on Gender or Age of the respondents, or whether the survey was done via telephone or in the field.
The supposed polling organization introduced bizarre ethnic ratio of people it supposedly surveyed. The number of respondents - Macedonians and Albanians is almost equal, which corresponds to the structure of the population in the country. In the sample there are only 31.3 per cent of Macedonians (2,041) and 27.6% Albanians (1800), 11% Roma (717), 9.7% Turks, 8% - Serbs, Bosniaks 4.4%, 1.4% Vlachs ...
The so-called Center for interethnic tolerance and refugees, which for the first time appeared in the public today does not exist in any Court registration papers, which means the name is ficticious. MINA's representative in Skopje, Valentina Trajkovska checked to find this organization in the Central Registry, with the same outcome, it does not exist there either.
In the supposed survey, more than 2/3 of Macedonian citizens believe that interethnic relations are 'on the brink of conflict'.
It goes on
Only 78 percent of respondents answered that interethnic relations are very bad, over 70 percent said they were satisfied with the cooperation of ethnic groups, and 56 percent fear for the future of the next generations.
Astonishing is the fact that the poll shows that 89 percent of the citizens, if they had the opportunity, would immediately leave the country! This contradicts EU border report that Macedonians travel the least after the visa liberalization.
The survey's author, Vlado Dimovski, proceeds to give a two pages personal view entitled "interethnic conflict - inevitable," suggesting that these alarming figures showed the country was back to the 2001 crisis.
The ruling coalition had no comment on this 'survey', while Albanian parties (DPA being the exception) have asked the SDSM to stop inflaming ethnic tensions in the country.
SDSM is seen using the same scenario from 2001, when after failing to win parliamentary elections, managed to become part of the Government after a short lived conflict. Crvenkovski's hope is that another conflict will once again catapult him to the PM spot.
Through their privately controlled media, only recently the SDSM announced a poll where they had supposedly 'increased' their popularity to 17% while the ruling coalition went down to 18%. The SDSM boasted their 'success', until they were silenced by the IRI Institute who only days later announced the Ruling coalition enjoyed a ratio of 2.5:1 popularity over the opposition.
Though we normally refuse to report fake polling results, particularly when they come from bogus NGOs organizations formed days ago, we'd made one exception today, so we can all witness how low and what Crvenkovski is prepared to do to return to power.
Today, an organization calling itself "Center for interethnic tolerance and refugees" stated that Macedonia has never been as close to civil war as is today. This 'news' spread throughout the SDSM controlled media like firestorm with A1, Utrinski, Vreme, Vest, Dnevnik all placing it as "top news".
Bizarre polling
The supposed number of people asked is an unusually high number of 6500 respondents of different ethnic communities in more than 26 settlements around the country. There is no other information on the methodology of which the survey was conducted. There is no data on Gender or Age of the respondents, or whether the survey was done via telephone or in the field.
The supposed polling organization introduced bizarre ethnic ratio of people it supposedly surveyed. The number of respondents - Macedonians and Albanians is almost equal, which corresponds to the structure of the population in the country. In the sample there are only 31.3 per cent of Macedonians (2,041) and 27.6% Albanians (1800), 11% Roma (717), 9.7% Turks, 8% - Serbs, Bosniaks 4.4%, 1.4% Vlachs ...
The so-called Center for interethnic tolerance and refugees, which for the first time appeared in the public today does not exist in any Court registration papers, which means the name is ficticious. MINA's representative in Skopje, Valentina Trajkovska checked to find this organization in the Central Registry, with the same outcome, it does not exist there either.
In the supposed survey, more than 2/3 of Macedonian citizens believe that interethnic relations are 'on the brink of conflict'.
It goes on
Only 78 percent of respondents answered that interethnic relations are very bad, over 70 percent said they were satisfied with the cooperation of ethnic groups, and 56 percent fear for the future of the next generations.
Astonishing is the fact that the poll shows that 89 percent of the citizens, if they had the opportunity, would immediately leave the country! This contradicts EU border report that Macedonians travel the least after the visa liberalization.
The survey's author, Vlado Dimovski, proceeds to give a two pages personal view entitled "interethnic conflict - inevitable," suggesting that these alarming figures showed the country was back to the 2001 crisis.
The ruling coalition had no comment on this 'survey', while Albanian parties (DPA being the exception) have asked the SDSM to stop inflaming ethnic tensions in the country.
SDSM is seen using the same scenario from 2001, when after failing to win parliamentary elections, managed to become part of the Government after a short lived conflict. Crvenkovski's hope is that another conflict will once again catapult him to the PM spot.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Macedonia opposition ends Parliament boycott
Macedonia's opposition Social Democrats and allied parties have ended an 18-day boycott of Parliament after the president pardoned a party official accused of corruption.
President Branko Crvenkovski says his weekend pardon of Social Democrat deputy leader Zoran Zaev was justified because the boycott was hurting the Balkan country's prospects of joining NATO and the European Union.
The party and its allies ended their boycott on Monday.
The party maintains that Zaev's July 17 arrest on suspicion embezzling millions in public funds was politically motivated by the country's conservative government.
Macedonian President Pardons Strumica Mayor, Opposition Back to Assembly
President Branko Crvenkovski signed decision to pardon Strumica Mayor Zoran Zaev and his five associates, suspected of misuse of official power regarding the construction of shopping mall "Global."
Cabinet [office] of President Branko Crvenkovski said in a press release that, after the consultations with the leaders of SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] and DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians - PDSh in Albanian] Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci, he was informed that two political parties accepted his proposal for surpassing the political crisis in the country. SDSM and DPA return in the Macedonian Parliament, in ZELS [Association of Self-Government Units], and establish normal cooperation with institutions in the country.
Also, President Crvenkovski passed decision for not signing the decrees proclaiming the Law on Use of Languages, Law on Lobbying, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Labour Relations, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Expropriation, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Practice of Law, and Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Energy.
SDSM through announcement confirmed that it accepted the proposal of President Crvenkovski for return in the parliament and also accepted the decision to pardon Zaev.
VMRO-DPMNE [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization- Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] late Saturday [2 August] assessed the President Crvenkovski's decisions as coup d'etat against the institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.
VMRO-DPMNE considered that with this Crvenkovski maximally misused his position exclusively in the interest of the party it belongs. This is the first case in southeastern Europe of passing a decision to pardon persons suspected of crime.
Cabinet [office] of President Branko Crvenkovski said in a press release that, after the consultations with the leaders of SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] and DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians - PDSh in Albanian] Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci, he was informed that two political parties accepted his proposal for surpassing the political crisis in the country. SDSM and DPA return in the Macedonian Parliament, in ZELS [Association of Self-Government Units], and establish normal cooperation with institutions in the country.
Also, President Crvenkovski passed decision for not signing the decrees proclaiming the Law on Use of Languages, Law on Lobbying, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Labour Relations, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Expropriation, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Practice of Law, and Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Energy.
SDSM through announcement confirmed that it accepted the proposal of President Crvenkovski for return in the parliament and also accepted the decision to pardon Zaev.
VMRO-DPMNE [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization- Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] late Saturday [2 August] assessed the President Crvenkovski's decisions as coup d'etat against the institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.
VMRO-DPMNE considered that with this Crvenkovski maximally misused his position exclusively in the interest of the party it belongs. This is the first case in southeastern Europe of passing a decision to pardon persons suspected of crime.
Macedonia Ministry of Justice: Decision to pardon Zoran Zaev is act against justice
Skopje. The decision of the head of state to pardon the Mayor of Strumica and the five suspected is a violent attack against the judiciary. This was announced by the Macedonian Ministry of Justice today in relation to the decision of the President of the country Branko Crvenkovski to pardon the Mayor Zoran Zaev and the other people suspected in relation to the Global trade center case in Strumica, the Macedonian agency Makfax reported.
Controversial solutions for return of opposition
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski warned that the country won't receive date for membership negotiations with the European Union if the opposition does not return to the Parliament, for which he offered a solution.
In order the opposition to return to the Parliament, he offers to SDSM abolition of Strumica mayor Zoran Zaev and his associates, in relation to the "Global" case.
The President guarantees to DPA that he won't sign the decree on the Law on Languages Use and that there will be repeated Parliament procedure on this issue. Otherwise, the President said this Law is good.
To bring the opposition back to the Parliament, the President also said he won't sign the laws on lobbying, on labour relations, on expropriation and on law Bar, causing them to be returned to the Parliament.
In the October report, the European Commission won't give recommendation for starting the accession negotiations with the Union", Crvenkovski said, stating that the failure to meet the eight criteria set forth by the EU and election irregularities are the cause.
However, according to the President, the most serious problem is opposition's boycott of the Parliament and other state bodies.
"We are not receiving negotiation date from the EU with this defective Parliament, and halfway democracy", Crvenkovski said.
The President also said he will try to talk with SDSM and DPA presidents, Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci. He added that if the opposition does not stop the boycott, his proposals are pointless.
Crvenkovski also pointed out that, according to him, politics is involved in crime-fighting.
"I am convinced that the combat against crime and corruption... is used for political settlements with opponents of the government", the President said.
When asked by journalists about eventual election of the President by the Parliament, Crvenkovski replied: "I have no intention to resign before the end of my term".
In order the opposition to return to the Parliament, he offers to SDSM abolition of Strumica mayor Zoran Zaev and his associates, in relation to the "Global" case.
The President guarantees to DPA that he won't sign the decree on the Law on Languages Use and that there will be repeated Parliament procedure on this issue. Otherwise, the President said this Law is good.
To bring the opposition back to the Parliament, the President also said he won't sign the laws on lobbying, on labour relations, on expropriation and on law Bar, causing them to be returned to the Parliament.
In the October report, the European Commission won't give recommendation for starting the accession negotiations with the Union", Crvenkovski said, stating that the failure to meet the eight criteria set forth by the EU and election irregularities are the cause.
However, according to the President, the most serious problem is opposition's boycott of the Parliament and other state bodies.
"We are not receiving negotiation date from the EU with this defective Parliament, and halfway democracy", Crvenkovski said.
The President also said he will try to talk with SDSM and DPA presidents, Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci. He added that if the opposition does not stop the boycott, his proposals are pointless.
Crvenkovski also pointed out that, according to him, politics is involved in crime-fighting.
"I am convinced that the combat against crime and corruption... is used for political settlements with opponents of the government", the President said.
When asked by journalists about eventual election of the President by the Parliament, Crvenkovski replied: "I have no intention to resign before the end of my term".
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Macedonia Opposition Figure in Police Custody
Zoran Zaev, Strumica mayor and vice president of the main opposition Social Democrats, who has been accused of abuse of abuse has been taken to a detention facility.
The Skopje District Court ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody for the next 30 days. The Court overturned an earlier decision by an investigative judge that Zaev should not be detained.
The Trial Chamber of the Court changed its decision after a second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides should be in police custody as they could influence witnesses in the case.
A large number of Strumica residents gathered late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him.
“Unfortunately from day to day we become a state of precedents. Macedonia is the only country in the world where despite two decisions of the investigative judge not to order detention, the trial chamber changed that decision,” said Social Democrats' leader Radmila Sekerinska.
“This kind of thing happens only to members of the opposition and those that are successful but do not think the same as the ones in power,” she added.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje Court . The court initially decided not to detain Zaev while the Social Democrats claimed that the whole case was a provocation by the parties in power. Zaev was mentioned as one of the possible successor's to Sekerinska after she announced she was stepping down over the party’s crushing defeat at the June 1 general elections.
The only electoral district in which the opposition did not suffer a strong defeat at the polls was the one in which Zaev led the party candidates’ list.
Zaev along with four others is accused of abuse of office over a tender for a local shopping mall in the south-eastern town of Strumica where he is mayor.
In protest over his arrest the Social Democrats launched a boycott of parliament. If they keep up their action, the parliament will practically be left without any opposition lawmakers as last week, the main ethnic Albanian opposition, the Democratic Party of Albanians also left the assembly arguing they will return when the issues concerning greater rights for their community are addressed properly.
In June the ruling centre right VMRO DPMNE-led coalition beat the Social Democrats by winning 63 deputy seats while the Social Democrats alliance secured only 27 out of the 120 parliament seats.
The new government was voted in parliament during the weekend.
The Skopje District Court ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody for the next 30 days. The Court overturned an earlier decision by an investigative judge that Zaev should not be detained.
The Trial Chamber of the Court changed its decision after a second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides should be in police custody as they could influence witnesses in the case.
A large number of Strumica residents gathered late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him.
“Unfortunately from day to day we become a state of precedents. Macedonia is the only country in the world where despite two decisions of the investigative judge not to order detention, the trial chamber changed that decision,” said Social Democrats' leader Radmila Sekerinska.
“This kind of thing happens only to members of the opposition and those that are successful but do not think the same as the ones in power,” she added.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje Court . The court initially decided not to detain Zaev while the Social Democrats claimed that the whole case was a provocation by the parties in power. Zaev was mentioned as one of the possible successor's to Sekerinska after she announced she was stepping down over the party’s crushing defeat at the June 1 general elections.
The only electoral district in which the opposition did not suffer a strong defeat at the polls was the one in which Zaev led the party candidates’ list.
Zaev along with four others is accused of abuse of office over a tender for a local shopping mall in the south-eastern town of Strumica where he is mayor.
In protest over his arrest the Social Democrats launched a boycott of parliament. If they keep up their action, the parliament will practically be left without any opposition lawmakers as last week, the main ethnic Albanian opposition, the Democratic Party of Albanians also left the assembly arguing they will return when the issues concerning greater rights for their community are addressed properly.
In June the ruling centre right VMRO DPMNE-led coalition beat the Social Democrats by winning 63 deputy seats while the Social Democrats alliance secured only 27 out of the 120 parliament seats.
The new government was voted in parliament during the weekend.
SDSM Vice President heading to prison
Unofficially, the Prosecution Body for Fight Against Organized Crime has reached a decision to imprison Strumica's mayor for 30 days, while the case against him is being prepared.
The decision was made earlier today by Skopje Court 1, though it hasn't made it public yet. Mina believes this will be made official shortly. Several hundred Strumica residents have already started gathering around the Local Administrative Building to show their support for the mayor.
According to our source, the decision of Skopje Court 1 is final, and don't intend to review or change it. The reason for the 30 days detention, according to our source, is to stop Zaev and his associates from pressuring and bribing three Strumica famillies into agreeing the land where the "Globe" Shopping Center is built didn't belong to them.
Zaev is expected to arrive at the Suto Orizari County jail this evening. Strumica residents have vowed to gather around the prison to voice their displeasure.
The decision was made earlier today by Skopje Court 1, though it hasn't made it public yet. Mina believes this will be made official shortly. Several hundred Strumica residents have already started gathering around the Local Administrative Building to show their support for the mayor.
According to our source, the decision of Skopje Court 1 is final, and don't intend to review or change it. The reason for the 30 days detention, according to our source, is to stop Zaev and his associates from pressuring and bribing three Strumica famillies into agreeing the land where the "Globe" Shopping Center is built didn't belong to them.
Zaev is expected to arrive at the Suto Orizari County jail this evening. Strumica residents have vowed to gather around the prison to voice their displeasure.
Zaev transferred to detention facility
Strumica mayor and SDSM's deputy head Zoran Zaev, accused of misusing his post as mayor, has been transferred to detention facility late on Sunday.
The Trial Chamber of Skopje District Court 1 ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody in the next 30 days. The Chamber upheld the second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides be kept in police custody.
Large number of Strumica residents massed late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him. The locals tried to stop their mayor to surrender himself.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje District Court 1. After 12-hour interrogation, they were released on bail and their passports were seized.
Mayor Zaev and five of his associates are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the construction of Global shopping mall in Strumica.
The Trial Chamber of Skopje District Court 1 ruled that Zaev is to remain in police custody in the next 30 days. The Chamber upheld the second appeal from public prosecutors, who insisted that Zaev alongside five aides be kept in police custody.
Large number of Strumica residents massed late Sunday outside the City Hall to voice support for their mayor and to express outrage at court's decision to arrest him. The locals tried to stop their mayor to surrender himself.
Zaev and his aides were arrested on 17 July and they were brought to Skopje District Court 1. After 12-hour interrogation, they were released on bail and their passports were seized.
Mayor Zaev and five of his associates are accused of wrongdoing in relation to the construction of Global shopping mall in Strumica.
Senior Macedonian opposition official re-arrested on corruption charges
Macedonian authorities have taken a key opposition figure back into custody on corruption charges after the prosecution appealed against his release on bail 10 days ago.
Zoran Zaev, the deputy leader of Macedonia's opposition party, and four aides were arrested July 17 on suspicion of embezzling €7.8 million (US$12.4 million) in public funds during the construction of a shopping mall in the southern town of Strumica.
Zaev was charged with abuse of authority.
The Skopje District Court canceled his release and late Sunday ordered Zaev and his aides held in custody for 30 days on the grounds they might influence witnesses if free.
No trial date has been set.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Opposition holding the ruling Government hostage
The speaker of the Parliament, Trajko Veljanovski, called the opposition, which announced boycott of Parliament's sessions, to attend tomorrow's session where the new Macedonian Government will be voted for.
The voting, according to him, is "a democratic principle through which the Government is introduced in front of the legislative house and receives legitimacy from it".
"I call coordinators of all parliamentary groups to come to coordinate on Saturday, in order to schedule the session's agenda, as well as to discuss other open issues", says Veljanovski's statement.
Because of the announced coordination, Veljanovski re-scheduled the session for voting on the new Government for 17 hours.
The coalition led by SDSM announced boycott of the Parliament after Strumica mayor was detained, and confirmed the decision after the adoption of new Parliament Rulebook of Procedure, while DPA announced its exit immediately after the end of elections because they lost fair and square.
Commentary Says It's Time for Macedonian Opposition to Stand Against Government
In view of the recently published report on VMRO-DPMNE's [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] intention to hold an early local election with a view to winning local authority in all the municipalities, it is becoming clear that Gruevski's top priority is to make the SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] perish. After all, this is what he promised, using the exact same words, in his speeches before the election. But, this is not all. The statement that "the SDSM should be knocked down" in order to be reformed and that it should become a constructive and patriotic opposition in the country can also be attributed to him. The SDSM should be concerned in view of these "humane," "politically mature," moderate, and "patriotic" ideas of this country's favourite politician, which are already being referred to as "Grujovisms [reference to premier's surname akin to Stalinism]." If somebody as politically powerful as Gruevski wishes that you perish and works on this using all available means, in a country where the institutions of the system and rule of law are not particularly strong and capable of offering protection, then this might as well happen to you.
Therefore, having lost the parliamentary election that was carried out through the model of an early election, the SDSM should now acknowledge that it is dealing with somebody who can be described as a "political serial killer." The latter first kills the opposition's Assembly caucus, moving on to the mayors from the opposition's ranks, and finally, probably gets the country's president.
As is usually the case with serial killers, the analysts will probably discover that the reason for his great frustration with the opposition, which he wishes would perish, was that his mother or father were members of the SDSM (or the SKM [Alliance of Macedonia's Communists] or the KPJ [Communist Party of Yugoslavia]). They molested him as a child, so he wants to take his revenge on all those who remind him of them. Alternatively, the analysts will decide that this is his inherent trait. Given that his mother possesses four flats, whereas he himself does not have a single one, such a showdown is highly likely. Joking aside, it is a given fact that as long as Gruevski is the main political actor in Macedonia, President Branko Crvenkovski and the SDSM as a whole are right to be concerned. For, as far as Gruevski and before him, Ljubco Georgievski [former prime minister] are concerned, "the whole must have all its parts in order to be a whole."
The political circumstances are playing into Gruevski's hands and helping him achieve his objective. When they are not to his benefit, he turns them to be. Following Greece's veto in Bucharest, it was easy to reinforce the nation's indignation with Europe, Greece, and even the United States. It was easy to say to your own people, "we are the good ones, but the others do not understand what is good." It was easy to raise nationalist euphoria in the form of a defensive nationalism, presenting and treating as traitors all those who do not share your opinion. It was easy to create a patriotic front similar to the Socialist people's front, which used to defend us from the enemies of Communism. As some journalists would say, this is patriotic hysteria and piracy.
Nevertheless, knowing the reasons for this situation does not help the SDSM. Gruevski has convinced almost half a million people that he could save us from the bad Greeks, poverty, criminals, as well as from "the Albanians' excessive appetites." He comfortably adopted the image of a saviour and national hero deserving of a wag figure in the museum that is to be built in Skopje.
Realistically speaking, the SDSM does not stand chances against him until it manages systematically to shatter this lie. This lie may persist for some time, just as was the case in Serbia during Milosevic. However, exposing the lie will not suffice, for Gruevski will be quick to come out with a Milosevic-style slogan, "Who could ever replace me?"
The SDSM will have to demonstrate that it is a realistic alternative to this policy.
First of all, it will have to start believing in itself, so that others can believe it. In order to have others believe it, the SDSM should not imitate the VMRO-DPMNE. It should emphasize its distinctness and demonstrate its capacity to tackle the challenges of this era. Macedonia does not need yet another Gruevski - what it needs is an alternative.
The "For European Macedonia" coalition, which received the support of 230,000 voters, should quickly demonstrate that it has the capacity and knowledge to use its power to defend democratic principles in the country. Just like human rights and liberties, democracy also must be defended when under threat.
The SDSM should focus on safeguarding rule of law and civic liberties. This does not finish at Macedonia's borders and Gruevski must know this (or should be told so). His sovereignty is limited and he cannot turn into a dictator of a country that is a candidate for EU membership. He is under constant monitoring by those in Brussels, whom he already treats as Macedonia's enemies (just like Ljubco Georgievski used to). He must be forced to realize that he cannot abuse state funds without accounting for his expenditures without an end. His economic reforms, which serious economists consider as economic ignorance, rather than reformism, must be subject to ridicule.
Gruevski should be given the chance to repeat as often as possible that he works too much, that he is honest, unyielding, and concerned, and that his revival is constantly being expanded, upgraded, and effected. The receipts as to who is paying for the self-advertizing of his party-state, whose money is used, what the objective is, and who profits should follow each of his statements and advertizing campaigns.
There is hope for the opposition. Whenever it comes to power, the VMRO-DPMNE promises to rule for the next 100 years, which is why its programme consists of 100 steps. However, the party has never progressed further than the second or third step because of double- dribble, and consequently, the referee sends it out. At the moment, it is at the second step. The SDSM as a party and as part of a coalition with so many professors, doctors, ambassadors, former ministers, mayors, and other serious people with solid careers should not be intimidated by Gruevski, Jankuloska, or Stavreski. Before taking office, the latter were totally anonymous in this country. All it will take [for the SDSM] is some spite, consciousness, and the willingness to change the situation.
Democracy in Macedonia: The Crying Game
On 17 July Mr. Zaev, vice president of the Macedonian social democrats (SDSM) was brought to the Court in Skopje, charged with abuse of office. SDSM and VMRO exchanged accusations: SDSM accused VMRO of dictatorship, VMRO in turn accused SDSM of interfering with the work of judiciary
On Saturday, July 26, the freshly elected Macedonian Parliament will convene to approve the new government composed by the two winners in the recent snap vote, Macedonian VMRO and the Albanian Democratic Union of Integration (DUI).
But alas, VMRO and DUI will have to go to the party alone. The major opposition parties, Macedonian social democrats (SDSM) and the Democratic Party of the Albanians (DPA) have both already left Parliament.
DPA announced its withdrawal a few weeks ago when it became clear it won’t make it into the government. SDSM just announced its boycott the other day in sign of protest against the arrest of their vice president and mayor of Strumica, Zoran Zaev.
On 17 July before noon Mr. Zaev was brought to the Court in Skopje together with five of his associates from Strumica. All of them handcuffed, including the middle-age female clerks. The TV crews were already waiting. Someone as usual, has tipped them off. Mr. Zaev and his associates have been charged with abuse of office in connection with the construction of the new, modern trade center in Strumica, opened earlier this year.
Mr. Zaev’s is merely the last in the series of spectacular TV busts which have happened during the mandate of the previous government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
At the word of their vice president’s arrest, the entire SDSM leadership, together with several hundred supporters gathered in protest in front of the Court. Riot police were already in place. The social democrats engaged in some pushing with the police and demanded the release of their colleague. After a few hours, things quieted down. Late into the night, after 12 hours of interrogation, the judge released Mr. Zaev and his associates to defend themselves from freedom.
The detainees returned to Strumica and Mr. Zaev was given a hero’s welcome. The crowd carried him; tears of joy replaced the tears of despair from earlier that day; a Roma brass band was summoned to the social democrats’ head office in Strumica to make the joy even greater. Democracy won, said the social democrats.
The next day, their president Radmila Sekerinska announced they were leaving Parliament.
Protesting in front of the Court, former Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski, said the scene made him feel like vomiting. “This arrest has a political pretext and it will have serious political consequences”, said he.
Mr. Buckovski suffered the identical scene some months back. He was charged with abuse of office from the time when he served as Defense Minister, and was given the same TV-arrest. His party colleagues reacted in the same way too. They gathered in front of the Court and demanded his release. Mr. Buckovski, whose trial is currently underway, was allowed to defend himself from freedom. Some of the other indictees have spent some time in detention.
“The incoming government of Nikola Gruevski is continuing with the practice of intimidation, said Mr. Buckovski.
Over the next few days SDSM and VMRO continued with mutual accusations. SDSM accused VMRO of dictatorship, persecution of political opponents, and abuse of human rights, the presumption of innocence in particular. VMRO in turn accused SDSM of interfering with the work of judiciary, and trying to intimidate judges, and cynically suggested to pass legislation to pardon all social democrats who have committed any crime.
The truth is as usual somewhere in between. SDSM is interfering with what is essentially a criminal investigation, and trying to cause a political crisis in just a few weeks after they suffered their worst electoral defeat in their existence. What happens if it turns out that Mr. Zaev is really guilty, asked some analysts?
“If they stay out of Parliament, and then it turns out Mr. Zaev is guilty, they risk of appearing as having pressured the judiciary”, comments professor Jovan Donev from the Eurobalkan Institute.
It is also true however that the spectacular TV arrests make people guilty before the trial has even begun. Even if acquitted later on, these people will remain labeled and their careers will suffer.
“TV justice has nothing to do with the fight against corruption and crime, nor with the respect of the presumption of innocence”, said Saso Ordanovski from Transparency Macedonia, a government watchdog. “This party - police circus has gone too far and we have been warning that it is out of democratic control”, Mr. Ordanovski added.
Many commentators concluded that SDSM can not revolt against the fact that charges have been brought against one of their own, but it is right to protest the way it is done in.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights also warned the government against the violation of the presumption of innocence done by widely televized arrests.
On the other hand, comments arrived from allover criticizing the social democrats’ decision to leave Parliament.
“People elected them, and are paying them to sit there”, said professor George Ivanov from the Law Faculty.
The European Commission also called upon the opposition to return to Parliament so the country could keep on course with reforms.
Yet, SDSM had a meeting a few days after the initial decision, and said they were not coming back. On the meeting of their executive board, which took place in Strumica as Mr. Zaev is under court order not to leave town, SDSM stood on their decision.
“ If perhaps last week some of us had some doubts whether we had gone too far, we are now convinced we did right”, said SDSM president Sekerinska.
VMRO does not want a democratic dialogue, they might as well continue to work alone, commented Ms. Sekerinska.
VMRO had used the few days of no opposition in the Parliament to quickly push through tens of pieces of legislation including the Parliament Statute, an important legislation which regulates the work of the Parliament itself.
Democratic tradition requires a consensus of political factors on adopting the Statute, and the EU demanded the same thing from Macedonia as a benchmark for opening negotiations. Both the EU and the US expressed disappointment over the fact that the opposition was not consulted on the issue.
The new government, with powerful majority in Parliament will be inaugurated Saturday. Democracy continues – the Macedonian way.
Both sides should reconsider their act. The government efforts against corruption are commendable but media lynching is not justice. The opposition on the other hand should stop the crying game and act responsibly.
On Saturday, July 26, the freshly elected Macedonian Parliament will convene to approve the new government composed by the two winners in the recent snap vote, Macedonian VMRO and the Albanian Democratic Union of Integration (DUI).
But alas, VMRO and DUI will have to go to the party alone. The major opposition parties, Macedonian social democrats (SDSM) and the Democratic Party of the Albanians (DPA) have both already left Parliament.
DPA announced its withdrawal a few weeks ago when it became clear it won’t make it into the government. SDSM just announced its boycott the other day in sign of protest against the arrest of their vice president and mayor of Strumica, Zoran Zaev.
On 17 July before noon Mr. Zaev was brought to the Court in Skopje together with five of his associates from Strumica. All of them handcuffed, including the middle-age female clerks. The TV crews were already waiting. Someone as usual, has tipped them off. Mr. Zaev and his associates have been charged with abuse of office in connection with the construction of the new, modern trade center in Strumica, opened earlier this year.
Mr. Zaev’s is merely the last in the series of spectacular TV busts which have happened during the mandate of the previous government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
At the word of their vice president’s arrest, the entire SDSM leadership, together with several hundred supporters gathered in protest in front of the Court. Riot police were already in place. The social democrats engaged in some pushing with the police and demanded the release of their colleague. After a few hours, things quieted down. Late into the night, after 12 hours of interrogation, the judge released Mr. Zaev and his associates to defend themselves from freedom.
The detainees returned to Strumica and Mr. Zaev was given a hero’s welcome. The crowd carried him; tears of joy replaced the tears of despair from earlier that day; a Roma brass band was summoned to the social democrats’ head office in Strumica to make the joy even greater. Democracy won, said the social democrats.
The next day, their president Radmila Sekerinska announced they were leaving Parliament.
Protesting in front of the Court, former Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski, said the scene made him feel like vomiting. “This arrest has a political pretext and it will have serious political consequences”, said he.
Mr. Buckovski suffered the identical scene some months back. He was charged with abuse of office from the time when he served as Defense Minister, and was given the same TV-arrest. His party colleagues reacted in the same way too. They gathered in front of the Court and demanded his release. Mr. Buckovski, whose trial is currently underway, was allowed to defend himself from freedom. Some of the other indictees have spent some time in detention.
“The incoming government of Nikola Gruevski is continuing with the practice of intimidation, said Mr. Buckovski.
Over the next few days SDSM and VMRO continued with mutual accusations. SDSM accused VMRO of dictatorship, persecution of political opponents, and abuse of human rights, the presumption of innocence in particular. VMRO in turn accused SDSM of interfering with the work of judiciary, and trying to intimidate judges, and cynically suggested to pass legislation to pardon all social democrats who have committed any crime.
The truth is as usual somewhere in between. SDSM is interfering with what is essentially a criminal investigation, and trying to cause a political crisis in just a few weeks after they suffered their worst electoral defeat in their existence. What happens if it turns out that Mr. Zaev is really guilty, asked some analysts?
“If they stay out of Parliament, and then it turns out Mr. Zaev is guilty, they risk of appearing as having pressured the judiciary”, comments professor Jovan Donev from the Eurobalkan Institute.
It is also true however that the spectacular TV arrests make people guilty before the trial has even begun. Even if acquitted later on, these people will remain labeled and their careers will suffer.
“TV justice has nothing to do with the fight against corruption and crime, nor with the respect of the presumption of innocence”, said Saso Ordanovski from Transparency Macedonia, a government watchdog. “This party - police circus has gone too far and we have been warning that it is out of democratic control”, Mr. Ordanovski added.
Many commentators concluded that SDSM can not revolt against the fact that charges have been brought against one of their own, but it is right to protest the way it is done in.
The Helsinki Committee for Human Rights also warned the government against the violation of the presumption of innocence done by widely televized arrests.
On the other hand, comments arrived from allover criticizing the social democrats’ decision to leave Parliament.
“People elected them, and are paying them to sit there”, said professor George Ivanov from the Law Faculty.
The European Commission also called upon the opposition to return to Parliament so the country could keep on course with reforms.
Yet, SDSM had a meeting a few days after the initial decision, and said they were not coming back. On the meeting of their executive board, which took place in Strumica as Mr. Zaev is under court order not to leave town, SDSM stood on their decision.
“ If perhaps last week some of us had some doubts whether we had gone too far, we are now convinced we did right”, said SDSM president Sekerinska.
VMRO does not want a democratic dialogue, they might as well continue to work alone, commented Ms. Sekerinska.
VMRO had used the few days of no opposition in the Parliament to quickly push through tens of pieces of legislation including the Parliament Statute, an important legislation which regulates the work of the Parliament itself.
Democratic tradition requires a consensus of political factors on adopting the Statute, and the EU demanded the same thing from Macedonia as a benchmark for opening negotiations. Both the EU and the US expressed disappointment over the fact that the opposition was not consulted on the issue.
The new government, with powerful majority in Parliament will be inaugurated Saturday. Democracy continues – the Macedonian way.
Both sides should reconsider their act. The government efforts against corruption are commendable but media lynching is not justice. The opposition on the other hand should stop the crying game and act responsibly.
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