Skopje, 11 December 2023 (MIA) - SDSM's Executive Board officially nominated late Sunday Jovan Mitreski as caretaker Parliament Speaker, and gave the ok for party leader and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski to conduct talks with parliamentary parties over a caretaker government. In addition, the party's top body decided that SDSM Secretary General Mile Zechevikj Vardarski be the head of the party's Central Election Headquarters.  

"Jovan Mitreski, coordinator of SDSM's parliamentary group, is a long-standing member of parliament, highly experienced, open, honest and committed to the interests of the citizens and the state, as has been proven in his entire involvement in the Parliament so far. We are certain that Mitreski will perform at the highest level and in the interest of the citizens," said SDSM spokesperson Darko Kaevski.

Kaevski added that the party's Executive Board has authorised SDSM leader Kovachevski to conduct preparatory talks and consultations with parliamentary parties over a caretaker government, noting it is a legal obligation.  

"SDSM is ready and is going for a double victory in the elections. SDSM will have the winning candidate for president and form the future pro-European government," Kaevski said. 

The Executive Board has tasked SDSM Secretary General Zechevikj to prepare a schedule for the procedure, method and criteria for selecting a candidate for president in the upcoming presidential elections in accordance with the party's statute.

Kaevski noted that the decisions are expected to be confirmed at a session of the party's Central Board which will be convened by the end of the month.    

Ahead of Sunday's session of SDSM's Executive Board, Prime Minister and SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski gave a statement to the media. Commenting on opposition party VMRO-DPMNE's statement that it has not yet decided if it will be part of the caretaker government led by Talat Xhaferi from Jan. 28 ahead of the elections, Kovachevski said the caretaker government is a legal obligation.