Skopje, 2 December 2023 (MIA) - A successful leaders’ meeting means that political parties will come to the table, and there will be no blackmails from one political party to another, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Saturday.

Regarding the holding of elections, Kovachevski noted that the parties will have the final say. As for the caretaker government, there is no consensus among the parties to abolish it.

According to Kovachevski, it is crucial that North Macedonia is a stable state, confidently progressing towards European integration, and therefore, deserves to hold regular elections.

"I expect a constructive leaders’ meeting in which all political parties represented in Parliament will participate because that is the way a democratic society functions. Everyone involved in a competition should have a say in how the competition is organized," stated Kovachevski today in response to a journalist's question during a visit to the ATS AMMO factory in Makedonski Brod.

He reminded that next year will mark the first regular parliamentary elections in our country since 2006. The final decision on the date of the parliamentary and presidential elections, he said, should be made by the parties. However, according to the calendar, the most probable timing for such an event is May.

“Regarding their scheduling, the final decision will be made by the parties, and the month of May provides an opportunity for such an occurrence. Additionally, consideration should be given to religious holidays, as April is the month of Ramadan, and early May is Easter. A date should be chosen that aligns with holding democratic elections and celebrating of all our holidays,” Kovachevski added.

According to Kovachevski, reaching an agreement in the meeting means that we will have elections according to a broadly acceptable Electoral Code, which incorporates the recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR. The elections will be held on a date that ensures both presidential and parliamentary elections within their regular terms, without posing an additional cost or burden to the citizens, considering that both the administration and the citizens participate in this crucial process.

“There is currently no consensus disposition to abolish the caretaker government in the short period before the elections. But there is certainly a willingness for it to be abolished with effect from the next elections. However, this should not be an obstacle to holding elections, as it represents an even greater democratic atmosphere, considering that the opposition was offered to participate in the government for the sake of continuing the European path,” Kovachevski said.

Photo: MIA archive