Party leaders at meeting for early elections in northern Macedonia

Organising early parliamentary elections is expected to be the focus of today's meeting of leaders of the largest political parties in northern Macedonia.

The meeting is initiated by President Stevo Pendarovski, as the country failed to get the date for starting talks with the European Union. The meeting is scheduled for 5: 00 p.m. at the presidential residence “via Vodno”.

The head of state has received positive answers from all guests -- leaders of the largest political parties by the government and opposition. Almost everyone, in the course of the meeting, called for early elections.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev proposed early parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

“Choice as soon as possible. Choices in which you citizens will decide on the road in which our country should walk. This will also be my proposal at tomorrow's meeting of leaders at President Pendarovski. Organizing elections for citizens to show in which direction to walk away. Citizens have a warrant to decide. Continue on the real path of European and democratic values, the road to development, prosperity and the road leading forward, or on the dark path of isolation, nationalism, divisions and conflicts, respectively, the path that turns back. Citizens will decide whether to build partnerships with neighbours and other democratic countries, or continue with confrontations and problems with neighbours and all of our friends”-tha Zaev.

VMRO DPMNE leader Hristian Mickovski said Zaev's statement of early parliamentary elections testifies that the prime minister himself has acknowledged his failures.

Mickovski said that at today's meeting of leaders, he expects to hear the proposal from Zaev directly. He called for implementation of the Law on Technical Government.

“Law is clear, it is known what parliamentary elections mean, what laws mean in parliamentary elections, etc. We simply have to respect and immediately proclaim elections and form technical governments, technical prime ministers and go to early parliamentary elections”, Mickoski said after a party event in Gostivar, as part of the “talks on the reconstruction of Macedonia”-thexhoy Mickoski.

DUI leader Ali Ahmeti said his party is ready for early elections. The elections he sees as the best solution to developments after failing to get the date for launching talks.

The best choice for the country is to go to extraordinary elections. I wouldn't want us to settle as guilty hunters because it's unacceptable to admit guilt. The Republic of Northern Macedonia is collateral damage to the differences the EU has. France uses veto because the EU is in search of building new enlargement situations and the leader of the idea is France. Sad to meet all the biggest EU nations” stressed Ahmeti.

By the Alliance for Albanians, they say the demand for early elections is good news after the failure for the country to get the date for starting negotiations with the EU. Sela's party says they are ready for new elections.

“Laim, who was warned by Prime Minister Zaev that the country must go to early elections, is a good news of hope, as a result of giving responsibility for even a lost integration year. We are convinced that in this case citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, but in particular Albanian voters will have the opportunity to give a new political legitimacy, because it has been estimated that the political leaders that are part of the government do not have the credibility and capacity needed to move the country towards our aspirations and citizens for the sole definition of our country, such as the EU”, the party spokesman Flaron Bexeti.

Even the Besa Movement has welcomed Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's proposal that the country go to early parliamentary elections. From this political subject, they reconfirm their position to hold early parliamentary elections as soon as possible.

Good luck, Movement B suggestion. The ESA for early parliamentary elections also clearly understands the country's prime minister, Zoran Zaev, who eventually understands that it is time for legitimacy to return to the sovereign, who will decide who will bear the responsibility to lead with the state after parliamentary elections” was spoken among others in the Besa Movement statement.

The Alternative Party, part of the Government, requires early elections as soon as held. The head of this political subject, Africa Gashi, called for changes to the electoral code and clean up the election list.

“Alternative requires that early elections be announced as soon as possible and that we verify the citizenship verdict for the desired representatives. For these reasons, we plan to soon invite the party's Central Assembly to make the final decision regarding our next stance and position. Of course, before that we ask for the Electoral Code to be redefined and cleared electoral lists”-the leader of this party, Africa Gashi.

President Pendarovski in his pre- opinion speech following the European Council's negative decision said now is the time to show unity about the country's strategic orientation, despite legitimate political differences on many issues.