The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has the right to support persons and political parties in the parliamentary elections in North Macedonia, just as the European parties give such support to certain Macedonian entities.
This is what the president of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, said on February 14, commenting on media reports that in the May 8 elections, Kurti will support the Albanian opposition, which consists of four political parties and some supporters of the Vetëvendosje Movement.
At the end of December last year, the three Albanian parties in opposition in North Macedonia – Besa Movement, Alternativa, Democratic Movement and later the chairman of the Alliance for Albanians, Arben Taravari – announced a joint electoral list for the May 8 elections.
Bekim Qoku, from the Vetëvendosje Movement, who also has Macedonian citizenship, said that his party will join this list, writes Radio Free Europe.
“His support for citizens of [North] Macedonia is not controversial as it is not about foreign citizens who will compete in our elections, as this is not allowed. All the persons mentioned here as his people [Albin Kurti], are citizens of North Macedonia and have the right to participate in the elections”, stated Pendarovski.
“Kurti can give political support to whoever he wants, as they have been doing this for years and years, like the European Socialist Party supporting left-wing parties, the same as the European People’s Party supporting right-wing parties in [Northern] Macedonia”, the Macedonian president declared.
Pendarovski did not comment on a statement by the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, on February 11 that Prime Minister Albin Kurti “wants to lead with North Macedonia as well”.
“There are elections. He [Kurti] wants to lead with North Macedonia as well. Yes, seriously. He wants to win over Ali Ahmet and the DUI, so that after the May elections, he can lead Macedonia”, Vučić had stated.
Pendrovski said that he “does not want to comment on the statements of statesmen that are made for their own agendas”.
The Macedonian opposition VMRO DPMNE has expressed “surprise” at the silence of the institutions regarding “Kurti’s interference in the internal affairs of [North] Macedonia”.
Another reaction on January 17 was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, saying that “the inclusion of the official policy of Kosovo in the political scene of the Albanians in North Macedonia can be reflected in the fragmentation of Albanian politics – tendency driven by external factors”.
The Vetëvendosja Movement has stated that the it will not participate as a political entity in the elections in North Macedonia as it is not registered as a political party in this country.
According to the Electoral Code of North Macedonia, only parties registered in the central register can participate in the elections. Whereas, the electoral list may contain the name of any coalition, such as the European League for Change, but within it the names of the political parties that make up the coalition must be highlighted.
Supporters of the Vetëvendosje Movement can compete on joint lists with the opposition, in any of the political parties, or as individuals, without mentioning the name of Vetëvendosje.
