Skopje, 17 October 2023 (MIA) — The president of the Macedonian Writers Association Hristo Petreski has resigned from his post for the second time, after revoking his previous "irrevocable" resignation last week. Meanwhile, roughly a third of the MWA membership have signed a public letter demanding that the MWA elect a new president, new assembly speaker, and new management board members.

"I am informing Macedonian Writers Association members and the press that today I officially resigned from the post of MWA president," Petreski said Tuesday in a press release.

Previously, on Oct. 9, Petreski submitted what he said was his irrevocable resignation citing health reasons, after eight members of the MWA management board had resigned from their posts.

One of the former board members, Branko Cvetkoski, said his resignation was due to Petreski's "violations of the association's statute" and "privatizing and manipulating the management board's teamwork and collective decision-making capacity."

On Oct. 14, Petreski revoked his first resignation, however, claiming that it had been extorted through pressure and threats.

On Oct. 15, some twenty members of the MWA in a press release said his decision to revoke his irrevocable resignation was "unprecendented" and called on Petreski to publicly ellaborate on his claims of alleged pressure and threats.

On Oct. 16 and 17, dozens of MWA members — including Vlada Uroshevikj, Olivera Nikolova, Cane Andreevski, Gordana Mihailova Boshnakoska, Mitko Madzhunkov, Sande Stojchevski, Zoran Anchevski, Ljubinka Doneva, Dimitrie Duracovski, Vesna Acevska, Branko Cvetkoski, Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski, Bratislav Tashkovski, Gordana Jovikj-Stojkovska, Goce Ristovski, Borche Panov, Sonja Stojmenska-Elzeser, Liljana Pandeva, Sasho Ognenoski, Olivera Kjorveziroska, Vesna Mojsova-Chepishevska, Violeta Tancheva-Zlateva, Elizabeta Jonchikj, Zoran Jakimovski, Lidija Dimkovska, Ana Martinoska, Biljana Crvenkovska, Vladimir Jankovski, Igor Angjelkov, Snezhana Mladenovska Angjelkov, Suzana V. Spasovska, Dime Ratajkoski, Igor Stanojoski, Aleksandra Jurukovska, Snezhana Stojchevska, Marija Girevska, Rumena Buzharovska, Julijana Velichkovska, Irena Jurcheva, Slavica Gadzhova-Sviderska, Mersiha Ismailoska, Dragana Evtimova, Frosina Parmakovska, Milena Ristova-Mihailovska, Zhivko Grozdanoski, Petar Andonovski, Davor Stojanovski, Ana Bunteska, Ivan Antonovski, Mihajlo Sviderski, Smile Naumoski Brsjak, Nikola Ilijovski, Bozhin Pavlovski, Kica Kolbe, Ferid Muhikj, Gligor Stojkovski, Nikola Madzhirov, Milosh Lindro, Pasko Kuzman, Anastasija Gjurchinova, Jovica Ivanovski, Vancho Polazareski, Vlade Dimovski, Vlado Janevski, Dejan Trajkovski, Ljupcho Siljanovski, Naum Popeski, Mirjana Stojanovska, Marina Mijakovska, Budimka Popovska, Ana Pejchinova, Marta Markoska, Vele Smilevski, Rade Siljan, Paskal Gilevski, Blazhe Minevski, Risto Vasilevski, Stojan Tarapuza, Slavcho Koviloski, Vinka Sazdova, Blazhe Kitanov, Zhivko Noveski, Zoran Pejkovski, Jovan Damjanovski, Daniela Andonovska-Trajkovska, Vesna Mundishevska-Veljanovska, Milica Dimitrijovska Radevska, Ivan Trposki, and Gordana Stojanovska — all signed a public letter demanding that the MWA assembly speaker Kristina Nikolovska announce a call for candidates for new MWA president and assembly speaker.

Candidates' applications should be considered at the already scheduled next session of the MWA assembly, the signatories said.

Recent developments had prompted Nikolovska to schedule an emergency session of the MWA assembly for Nov. 25.

Petreski had been elected MWA president and Nikolovska MWA assembly speaker in June 2022. mr/