Skopje, 4 June 2024 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova will most likely hand the mandate for the creation of government to VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski on Thursday, party sources told MIA. The deadline for the handing of the mandate expires on June 7.

The President told media on Tuesday that she could present the VMRO-DPMNE leader with the mandate earlier than the legal deadline.

“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. 

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. What is clear is that if Siljanovska-Davkova hands the mandate on June 6, 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.

Parliament could also amend the Law on Local Self-Government and the Electoral Code to find a transitional solution so as to avoid calling local elections to replace mayors who have become MPs or are set to become ministers, since the country’s regular local elections are set to be held in 2025. These amendments would also require a two-third majority.

The Office of Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said on Monday that Parliament could hold a session by the end of the week. 

Photo: MIA Archive