Skopje, 30 January 2025 (MIA) - First Deputy Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti told TV Kanal 5 in an interview Thursday the government delegation returned from its trip to the United States for President Donald Trump’s inauguration with “positive expectations for the intensification of the Euro-integration process”.

“It’s the United States. We should invest everything to gain influence there because a lot of things are being decided there. I am optimistic that this will be beneficial for the unblocking of the Euro-integration process,” Mexhiti said, asked about the expectations over the role the Trump administration can play in the country’s Euro-integration process.

Asked whether VLEN backs Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s position on constitutional amendments with deferred effect, Mexhiti said “the Prime Minister is looking for guarantees and we’re looking for a solution”. He noted they have different views in terms of “the intensity and dynamics” for a solution, but all of that, he said, “will ultimately be ironed out” in a joint position of the ruling coalition.

“What matters is that, as political parties, we have a pro-European orientation and we all want to have a solution and we are working towards that. No one opposes adding the Bulgarians to the Constitution, but it should be a win-win process for everyone,” the First Deputy Prime Minister said. 

Asked whether the VLEN coalition could move to become a single party with a single leader, Mexhiti said they would participate at the upcoming local elections as a coalition, adding they are “functioning successfully” in their current format.

“We showed this at the parliamentary elections, with a joint manifesto and campaign, we are a part of the Government together, and I don’t see why VLEN wouldn’t run in the local elections as an umbrella coalition, with joint candidates. After the elections we will most likely be able to talk about VLEN uniting [into a single political party],” said Mexhiti, whose party, the Democratic Movement, is one of the four parties that make up VLEN.

In the interview, Mexhiti said early elections aren’t necessary since the Government has a stable majority.

“I am not against early elections, but they aren’t needed. This Government has the biggest majority, it has the support of two-thirds of Parliament, and it would be unnatural to hold early elections,” Mexhiti said.

Asked about Artan Grubi and whether he was aided in his escape from the country, Mexhiti said “DUI was in power for so long, they certainly still have people within the institutions who are ready to overstep their authorizations”. He said Grubi will eventually return and face justice.

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