Skopje, 19 January 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister and SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski told reporters on Friday the ministerial posts that belong by law to the opposition in the caretaker government should remain vacant until VMRO-DPMNE votes in favor of that government.

He called on the nominee for caretaker PM Talat Xhaferi to form a government in which the posts of the ministers and additional deputy-ministers will remain vacant until VMRO-DPMNE decides to support the caretaker government. 

"Participating in a government, means supporting that government. There is no experience or example in the world of a political party participating in a government without supporting that government. Therefore, I believe that VMRO-DPMNE, in accordance with the law, just like all other political parties that are called to have ministers in the caretaker government, should name its candidates and vote in favor of the caretaker government. If VMRO-DPMNE decides not to vote in favor of that government, then I think those posts should remain vacant," said Kovachevski.

Commenting on the announcement by VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski that the party's ministers in the caretaker government will not attend the government's sessions, Kovachevski said the Government is an executive body whose members must be engaged throughout the entire day to be able to service the obligations they have.

"Looking at their approach in Parliament, we saw that they were part of the Parliament for the last four years, during which blockades were all they did. The Government is an executive body whose members must be engaged throughout the entire day in order to be able to service the obligations they have," Kovachevski pointed out. 

As regards Thursday's meeting with former Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev and DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, Kovachevski said talks focused on strategies of the political parties for the upcoming elections.  

"Yesterday we discussed ways in which the country should progress towards full-fledged EU membership. Each of us was able to share experiences. We also discussed strategies of the political parties for the upcoming elections, of course, through the prism of everyone's experience. This is neither the first nor the last meeting, especially for people who have known each other for three decades," Kovachevski said. 

As regards election coalitions with DUI, Kovachevski noted that SDSM is making analyses with the coalition partners. He believes the country needs a European coalition which will ensure a secure European future for the country with no uncertainty and isolation as was the case during the 11-year rule of VMRO-DPMNE.

"VMRO-DPMNE, unfortunately, has again failed at a forward-looking concept. All their statements are based on some assumptions, scenarios that have no real basis in the political processes neither in the country nor in the region nor in Europe. I believe that the citizens see that, and on April 24 at the presidential elections and on May 8 at the parliamentary elections, the Government will be formed again by SDSM and the coalition partners," said Kovachevski. 

Photo: Video print screen