Skopje, 5 June 2024 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova is expected to hand the mandate for the creation of government to VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski a day before the legal deadline. VMRO-DPMNE says the new government will be formed in line with the constitutional deadlines, while the 'Worth It' coalition, which VMRO-DPMNE is in negotiations with, expects the agreement to be finalized in three to four days. 

The deadline for the handing of the mandate expires on June 7, to be followed by a 20-day period for the formation of the government. 

“The mandate could be handed out earlier too. It all depends on the situation. The Constitution says 10 days [after Parliament’s constitutive session], followed by a 20-day period for the creation of the government,” Siljanovska Davkova said in response to a reporter's question ahead of Tuesday's panel discussion on "The European Union as a challenge and the challenges of the EU: Europe 74 years since the Schuman Declaration". 

VMRO-DPMNE, Worth It and ZNAM are still negotiating over the creation of the new government, even though the distribution of posts has already been published, in addition to unofficial reports of the names of new ministers. However, there is still no official information when the deal could be finalized. 

VMRO-DPMNE's Vice President Timcho Mucunski said Tuesday the new government will be formed in line with the constitutional deadlines, with talks still ongoing between VMRO-DPMNE, Worth It and ZNAM. He said he expects the government to be formed before the final deadline.

“Talks are still ongoing. As you know, the prime minister-designate, i.e. the leader of VMRO-DPMNE still hasn’t formally received the mandate, which means the constitutional deadlines would be running. What I can say at this moment is that the new government will be formed in line with the constitutional deadlines,” Mucunski said.

Arben Taravari, who is a part of the Worth It coalition which is currently negotiating with VMRO-DPMNE over the creation of a new government, said Tuesday the main points of the government program have been agreed and expects the agreement to be finalized in three to four days. Taravari also told media he will “most likely” assume the post of Health Minister.

If Siljanovska Davkova hands the mandate on Thursday, the 20-day period for the creation of the government will expire on June 25. Party sources told MIA that Parliament could elect the new government earlier than the deadline as well.  

Ahead of the creation of the government, Parliament is preparing to amend the Law on the Organization and Operation of the State Administration Bodies to restructure the ministries in the government. However, the adoption of the amendments would require a two-third majority in Parliament.

VMRO-DPMNE announced reorganization of the ministries in its election program "Platform #1198". The reorganization includes opening of a Ministry of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources, which has until now only been a sector within the Ministry of Economy, as well as transforming the Youth and Sports Agency into a Ministry of Sports. The youth sector is to be a part of a Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth, while the labor sector is to fall within a Ministry of Economy and Labor, with tourism being separated as part of the Ministry of Culture. The Ministry of Information Society and Administration is to become a Ministry of Digital Transformation. ad/mr/nn/

Photo: MIA