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Balkaneu/IBNA (8 May 2017)

Clashes continue between the largest political parties, VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM (Macedonian Social Democratic Union). VMRO-DPMNE is not recognizing the new Assembly speaker, Talat Xhaferi, who was elected by the new majority led by the social democrats and it continues to demand fresh elections.

SDSM says that Nikola Gruevski’s party must accept the fact that it is in opposition and that it must hand over power. But, the political situation is expected to be aggravated much further, as Assembly speaker, Xhaferi warned that he will lead parliament’s sessions in the Albanian language.

“Besides lying to the people, Zaev and SDSM have also violated the Constitution, the Rulebook and laws, while now they are backing the provocations that are marking the start of implementation of the Tirana Platform. SDSM didn’t react even after the declaration made by Talat Xhaferi that he would make the Albanian language an official language throughout the territory of the country, while parliament of Macedonia will be the third parliament in the region where proceedings will be presided in the Albanian language”, VMRO-DPMNE said.

Spokesman of SDSM, Petre Silegov said that VMRO-DPMNE must hand over power and become a constructive opposition. Meanwhile, Zaev’s party is optimistic that the new government will soon be formed and that president George Ivanov has been informed on the parliamentary majority and that he shouldn’t breach the Constitution.

“The new government will be formed. VMRO-DPMNE must distance itself from Gruevski’s provocations. It’s really important for us to have a smooth transfer of power and for the new government to be formed. This is in the best interest of the people and the state”, SDSM spokesman said.

According to constitutional deadlines, in the next 10 days, president George Ivanov is expected to mandate the social democrat leader for the formation of the government. So far, Ivanov has not issued any signals that he intends on doing such thing, while Zaev has declared that he’s ready to go to President Ivanov. The new majority consisting of SDSM and Albanian parties has 67 MPs and this is a sufficient number to form the new government.

But Ivanov is conditioning its formation on Zaev’s withdrawing from the so called Tirana Platform, which according to him, leads to divides in the country. But this has been denied by leaders of the new majority, stressing that the program of the new government aims at preserving the unity of the state, carry out reforms and strengthen the justice system.

By Naser Pajaziti

Photo: Balkaneu

http://www.balkaneu.com/political-situation-in-a-gridlock-political-parties-in-opposite-fronts/