site.btaPolitical Tensions Rise in North Macedonia as Election of Technical Government Approaches

The domestic political tensions in North Macedonia marked the questions to US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O'Brien and the country's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski at their joint press conference on Monday. It took place after the meeting of the leaders of the Western Balkan countries on the European Commission's development plan for the region.

As the deadline for the parliamentary elections and the election of a technical government approaches, the political opposition is growing. For the past few weeks there has been speculation in the media that US is insisting that Albanian political parties, whether in power or in opposition, sign an informal document committing themselves not to enter into a coalition with a party that does not plan to implement constitutional amendments within six months after the elections. The biggest opposition party, Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), continues to claim that it will not accept changes to the country's constitution "under Bulgarian dictate", and after the elections will look for a way for North Macedonia to start negotiations with the EU "in a dignified way".

Asked whether the information about such a document of the Albanian parties was true, O'Brien said he knew nothing about such document, but he stood by his position from his previous visit to the country that the citizens of North Macedonia should decide for themselves which path their country will follow.

"I think one party offers a way forward and accepts criticism. Another party says it is thinking of a way for (the country) to move forward and it is fair for citizens to question that party. And to choose for themselves between the vision they are familiar with and what is given as a promise," he replied.

The questions to Kovachevski were related to another VMRO-DPMNE position that the opposition party would propose its own representatives in the technical government but would abstain at the vote for its election. The ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) said that if the opposition did not vote its own ministers, there was no reason for the SDSM to vote them in. The government, which is to prepare the upcoming elections, is due to be voted on in the country's Parliament on Sunday.

"Everyone must work in accordance with the law and in accordance with democratic principles. You nominate ministers and support them, you cannot expect to nominate ministers and have someone else support your ministers. Such a thing does not exist in world practice and I think there is enough time until Sunday," Kovachevski said.

Meanwhile, no opposition representatives were present at Monday’s coordination meeting in parliament. The schedule for parliament's work remains unchanged and preparations for the election of a technical government should be completed with the vote on Sunday, January 28, said the office of the President of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia, Talat Xhaferi, later on Monday.