Skopje, 27 January 2024 (MIA) – Caretaker Prime Minister designate Talat Xhaferi delivered to Parliament the proposed composition and programme of the transitional government on Saturday, after which Parliament Speaker Jovan Mitreski scheduled the plenary session for the vote on the new government for 11am on Sunday, January 28.

In the Programme of the caretaker government, Xhaferi states that the government’s priority will be the successful holding of free, fair, and democratic elections on April 24 and May 8; the continuation of all processes related to the launched accession talks with the European Union and accelerated European integration; growth and development of the economy; increase in the living standard by raising the minimum and average wage, as well as pensions in 2024; a reduction of inflation and maintaining price stability and employment; direct aid for the citizens and companies; rule of law; fight against crime and corruption; complete order in the country; and the continuation of reform processes on all state levels.

“To that end, on the basis of broad interparty dialogue, the government will enable an efficient implementation of the recommendations by OSCE/ODIRH and other international organizations in order to ensure the highest European standards during the process of election campaign and elections, i.e., to organize elections with full legality, legitimacy, and consensual recognition of the electoral will of the citizens,” states the Programme.

In the proposed composition for the transitional government, Bojan Marichikj will hold the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, while Artan Grubi will be Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations.

VMRO-DPMNE’s Panche Toshkovski is the opposition party’s candidate for caretaker Interior Minister, while Gjoko Velkovski is the name put forward for the post of Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

Several ministers from SDSM, DUI and the Alliance for Albanians will retain their current posts: Justice Minister Krenar Lloga; Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani; Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi; Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski; Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti; Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri; Local Self-Government Minister Risto Penov; Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska; Minister of Information Society and Administration Azir Aliu; Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski; Minister of Environment and Physical Planning; as well as Fatmir Bytyqi, Minister without portfolio in charge of economic affairs; and Slavica Grkovska, Minister without portfolio in charge of good governance policies.

Parliament is expected to hold another session on Sunday, after the vote for the caretaker government, during which it will vote for the additional deputy ministers and verify the mandate of one MP who would replace Talat Xhaferi.

Ruling party SDSM put forward Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski’s chief of staff, Mitko Bojmacliev, as its candidate for additional Deputy Minister of Interior, and Jovanka Trenchevska for additional Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

VMRO-DPMNE proposed Elena Petrova for the position of additional Deputy Minister of Finance, Stefan Andonovski as additional Deputy Minister of Information Society and Administration, and Cvetan Tripunovski as additional Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.

After the vote in Parliament, the transitional government will lead the country for 100 days until the general elections scheduled for May 8.

Photo: MIA Archive