Skopje, 8 July 2024 (MIA) - Commenting on Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski's statement on a "gentlemen's agreement" regarding the post of a First Deputy PM in the Government, the First Deputy PM and Environment Minister Izet Mexhiti said Monday it was true that this post was not legally regulated, just as it has neither been in the past, but it was regulated by the Rules of Procedure of the Government.

"We have an agreement. I am the First Deputy PM and the Prime Minister also explained that. It is true that it is not legally regulated. The post of a First Deputy PM was neither regulated in the past, but it is regulated by the Rules of Procedure of the Government, which precisely state that there is a First Deputy PM and that I am the First Deputy PM," Mexhiti told Telma TV's Top Tema.  

He pointed out that the focus of the Government is on the economy, economic development and the living standard. According to him, these are the common goals of the three partners, as well as the fight against corruption, the rule of law and European integration. 

He also commented on the previous Government, noting that it has "left behind many half-hearted solutions, without regulating them properly by law".

As regards the Balancer instrument, Mexhiti said that in addition to ethnic representation, having quality in the selection process is a common commitment.  

"In the past, due to party employment, the quality of administration was neglected by both communities. And hence the requirement to reform the administration and make it worthy of the new challenges, for European integration. The Balancer mechanism in the beginning had an effect in terms of fair representation of the smaller communities at the level of the republic, also for the Macedonians at the level of the municipalities. In the past years, there have been many cases in which the Balancer was not in the function of fair representation, but of abuse of this and deepening of discrimination," said Mexhiti. 

According to Mexhiti, the Balancer will be promoted by a decision to a law on fair representation and preservation of quality in employment.

Photo: print screen