After the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), the Albanian Alliance will also decide to withdraw from the government in order to fulfill, as stated by the party, the condition set by the North Macedonian opposition party VMRO-DPMNE to support the approval of constitutional changes and the formation of an expanded government without DUI.
Hristijan Mickoski, the leader of VMRO-DPMNE, stated on Wednesday, June 7th, after a meeting with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski, that his party would support the constitutional amendment to include the Bulgarian minority in its preamble if these changes come into effect after the process of North Macedonia’s EU accession is completed.
He conditioned the process of amending the Constitution with the formation of a new government that would prepare for new elections but without DUI, which, together with the Albanian Alliance and the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), forms the current government.
Although VMRO-DPMNE did not mention the Albanian Alliance, the leader of this party, Arben Taravari stated on Monday in Gostivar that he has information that VMRO-DPMNE is preventing his party from being part of an expanded government.
“As for VMRO-DPMNE’s condition for the Albanian parties to leave the government, I want to emphasize that we are interested in the completion of the European process and the citizens’ perspective, not electoral calculations. The Albanian Alliance joined the government for the sake of the process but will adapt depending on the new circumstances, whether inside or outside the government,” said Taravari.
Previously, DUI confirmed its decision in party structures not to participate in the government if this were the condition set by VMRO-DPMNE to support the constitutional changes.
“The Democratic Union for Integration is ready to put the EU above any other party, political, or governmental interest. Therefore, we are ready to support a government in which DUI would not be present if it enables the constitutional changes to come into effect before its formation,” said DUI Spokesperson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani.
Prime Minister Dimitar Kovačevski said that it is now up to VMRO-DPMNE to support the constitutional changes, which are a condition for continuing negotiations with the EU for membership in the union.
“As a state-building party that has always made important decisions for the country’s future, we give VMRO-DPMNE the chance to participate for the first time in the decisions regarding the implementation of strategic goals for the country,” said Kovačevski.
The leader of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski stated that “he will support the changes if the EU accepts a change in the negotiation framework, which would make the constitutional amendment come into effect only after all EU member states ratify North Macedonia’s accession act to the EU.
This request is related to their “fear that Bulgaria may present additional demands during the negotiation process”, while justifying the exclusion of DUI from a possible new government with accusations against the party of “involvement in corruption and organized crime”.
However, political analysts say that VMRO’s condition for excluding DUI from a new government presents a “risk” for internal political problems.
