–
–
Dimitar Kovachevski PHOTO: Reuters
–
Dimitar Kovachevski to receive government mandate on Wednesday, expected to take office by January 17th
A mutually acceptable solution needs to be found in the disputes between Sofia and Skopje in order to lift the blockade and Northern Macedonia to finally start negotiations with the EU. This is something we have long deserved. This was stated by the chairman of the Macedonian SDSM party Dimitar Kovachevski during a meeting with the US Ambassador to the RSM Kate Mary Burns. The two spoke only a day before the successor to incumbent Prime Minister Zoran Zaev received a mandate to form a government.
“We have fulfilled all the conditions for starting the negotiations. We remain committed to finding a solution with neighboring Bulgaria in order to continue our European path. After I am elected Prime Minister, I will invite Mr. Petkov (Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov – b.r.) to visit our country. The most important thing for us is to make a plan together with the Bulgarian government to lift the blockade as soon as possible, of course, with a mutually acceptable solution. We need to have an honest approach in conversations. If the new Bulgarian government has the same approach, I think so
it is possible to find
compromise on
open issues “,
Kovachevski told the US ambassador.
Kate Burns, for her part, congratulated him on his new post as chairman of the SDSM and confirmed that the United States continues to be the PCM’s largest strategic partner, both in terms of reforms and in the process of European integration.
“This is a challenge I am ready to accept, and I am committed to my work to justify the vote of confidence,” Kovachevski said. The session for the election of a new leadership and new members of the Central and Executive Councils of the Social Democratic Union continued until late Monday night. “SDSM will be reorganized, will continue to democratize and modernize. The party is open to engaging new people who have the knowledge, honesty and commitment to social democratic values, “Kovachevski said. He was elected chairman of the SDSM and future prime minister following the resignation of Zoran Zaev due to the party’s poor performance in the October local elections.
Until now, the 47-year-old Kovachevski was deputy. Financial Minister. He studied in Minnesota, and in 2011 specialized in digital marketing at Harvard. Analysts point out the fact that the eventual future prime minister has decided to meet with the US ambassador before he is even approved for the post.
Dimitar Kovachevski explained to Kate Mary Burns that his working principle will be
zero tolerance
to corruption at every level,
especially to senior government officials. “To this end, I will focus on strengthening the capacity of anti-corruption institutions. Effective, responsible and dedicated, “Kovachevski said.
The future prime minister stressed that the new government will focus on financial support for citizens in the context of the economic and energy crisis in order to protect vulnerable groups.
RSM President Stevo Pendarovski is expected to hand over a mandate to form a government to Kovachevski on Wednesday. Explaining the whole procedure for electing a new cabinet, Macedonian Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi believes it will take office on January 17th, 2022.
From the moment he delivers the mandate, the president should inform the speaker of parliament and the 20-day period begins, during which the nominee for prime minister must appear before parliament with a proposal for the composition of the new government and its work program, he said. Jaffery. The head of parliament expressed hope that Kovachevski would shorten the deadline, but as soon as the program and the composition of the government are submitted, the parliament must hold a two-day session within 15 days. The new government must be voted on before midnight on the second day.
Asked what would happen if there was no majority in parliament to vote in the new cabinet, Xhaferi said: “There are 64 deputies in the majority and this will actually show the vote.” A majority in the Macedonian Parliament requires 61 deputies.
The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), a coalition partner of the SDSM, commented that Skopje must solve its problems with Bulgaria. According to him, negotiations with Sofia are not easy at all, but it is very important to have a constructive dialogue and good will, because both sides have one thing in common – building a stable and peaceful state.
– .
