Northern Macedonia: The Albanian ‘Alternative’ party will join the government

An agreement on the participation of the Albanian party “Alternativa” (Alternativa) in the governing coalition of Northern Macedonia was signed today at noon by the Prime Minister Zoran Zaef and the leader of the “Alternative” Afrim Gassi.

Under the agreement, “Alternative” will take over three ministries in the government (Health, Public Administration and Diaspora) and will appoint three other deputy ministers.

Zoran Zaef said the new government would focus on resolving the dispute between Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria and tackling the health crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as tackling the energy crisis.

Presenting the agreement, Zoran Zaef said it would ensure a stable parliamentary majority for the government, noting that the government would complete its term, which runs until mid-2024.

The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia opposed the possibility of early parliamentary elections, stating that such a choice would cause a new political crisis in the country.

Zoran Zaef told Bulgaria and the EU that Northern Macedonia has a stable government, which seeks to resolve the dispute with Bulgaria, in order for Skopje to be able to start accession negotiations with the EU in the near future.

Joining the government of the small Albanian party “Alternative” was probably considered necessary, in order for the current government, with a slightly different shape, to regain the parliamentary majority and complete its term, which typically lasts another two and a half years.

At this stage, with the recent departure of the Albanian “BESA” party from the ruling coalition, the government of Zoran Zaef does not have a majority in Parliament, as it is supported by only 59 deputies, out of 120 in the entire Parliament.

The Albanian party “Alternative”, which until now was in opposition and now switches to the government, has four deputies, while the government could be supported by the MP Kastriot Rexhepi, who was expelled from “BESA” because on November 11 and the last At that moment, he literally decided to abstain from the meeting of the Parliament, at which the motion of censure against the government submitted by the opposition was to be considered, and in this way he had given the “kiss of life” to Zaef’s government. In such a case, the government of the country would have the support of 64 deputies.

In the current government, in addition to the SDSM and some smaller parties with which it cooperates, the largest Albanian party in Northern Macedonia, Ali Ahmeti’s DUI, also participates.

These developments take place after the heavy defeat of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDSM) in the recent municipal elections in Northern Macedonia, for which Zaef took responsibility and had stated that he would resign as party leader and prime minister.

Zaef has already resigned from the leadership of SDSM, while internal elections for the election of a new leader of this party will be held on December 12.

Zoran Zaef stated today that with the completion of the internal party processes in SDSM, he will resign as Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, saying characteristically that his term as Prime Minister of the country will last at most a few more weeks.

Zaef noted that the new SDSM leader will be appointed the new prime minister of the country.

Source: AMPE