Zekiri: Hard to convince Zaev to reconsider his resignation

He says it is expected that within days all things will be clarified and the surrender to the Assembly of Zaev's resignation from the post of the first post of the North Macedonian government.

Zekiri says that in addition to coalition partners there are international friends trying to persuade Zoran Zaev to give up the post of first government, but says he is disappointed by the result of local elections and the process of opening negotiations with the European Union.

There are many international friends trying to convince Mr. Zaev reflects. However, it will be difficult to comply with after his despair by the election outcome, but also with disappointment over the process of opening negotiations with the European Union several years, by meeting all conditions, making the name change, then presented as the obstacle and what the European Union did not reflect to see all those bold decisions Zaev made in foreign policies have influenced and continue to influence his personality, and it will be difficult for someone to convince even though the demands are all in place, within our subject, as well as from our coalition partners, Zeqoher says.

Zaev has not yet resigned from the prime minister's post in the country, which Zekiri says is expected to do within days.

Since ruling coalition partners confirmed that they remain part of the parliamentary majority, LSDM deputy chairman says if there will be a proposal for the prime minister's post, it will be a new name.

There isn't a time limit, but that can't be prolonged. Of course, within days things will be clarified here to us, and it will eventually be known when you resign or resign from the prime minister. But the safest thing is how it looks to give up Mr. Zaev in Parliament, but we have to wait a few more days after individual consultations continue now with parties that are government coalition partners who confirmed that part of the parliamentary majority remains... If the motion for resignation is submitted to Parliament, however, it will have a new name for the prime minister's post and will not be Mr. Zaev”, he says.

Zekiri says he does not prefer the country to go to extraordinary elections, especially at this time when, according to him, the country will face numerous challenges.

“Absolutely not only us, but none of the political subjects including the opposition are for early elections for the country because we are faced with numerous challenges for the country, including the energy crisis, including what we are waiting for by the end of the year to complete the process with Bulgaria, in negotiations to finally begin Macedonia's membership talks in the European Union, the economic crisis, the state of emergency with the COVI-19. All these are serious issues awaiting both Macedonia as a state and its citizens. Thus, early elections would not be for the benefit of citizens and anyone at this moment”, he says.

As for the opportunity to implement the agreement between the LSDM and DUI now to have an Albanian prime minister, Zekiri said that agreement has nothing to do with this period in which the country is located.

That deal has to do with the last 100 days of government, it has nothing to do with this period. The regular parliamentary elections are in 2024, so the LSDM abides in that agreement it has made with DUI and in those 100 days there will certainly be Albanian prime minister... If that happens, it means only 100 days will the government continue. The idea is for the parliamentary majority to continue and await regular elections in 2024. The parliamentary majority is currently stable and there is no need for concern”, Zekiri says.

LSDM Deputy Chairman Muhamed Zekiri points to the reasons for the poor outcome in local elections that forced Zoran Zaev to resign from the position of Macedonia's prime minister and from the position of party chairman.

There are many reasons in this direction, the first part of the traditional coalition partners we had allowed to compete in this local election itself, they managed to tear down a significant number of votes somewhere up to 50 thousand votes, while the gap with political opponents was around 400,000 votes if we saw the council lists. The second, as a reason, is that in three LSDM municipalities were won by its former candidates, who ran as independents. The third, in these local elections, did not dominate local themes, but the biggest impact has been on executive policies in general, especially on the Macedonian electorate's part of foreign policies led by Prime Minister Zaev, including changing the name with Greece, including the conflict with Bulgaria and the talks that are under way to close this issue, all of this has negatively affected the Macedonian section of population here in the”, he says.

The LSDM deputy chairman has also spoken of the meeting under “Open Balkans” that is being held in Belgrade today, which Northern Macedonia is represented by Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov.

If this initiative is to be jeopardised following Zeav's resignation from the position of prime minister, Zekiri says time will show it.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov has travelled instead of Prime Minister Zaev's, representing Macedonia today in Belgrade. This initiative has been like the initiative of three heads of these states, how much risk time will show, but everyone knows what Mr. Zaev from the post of prime minister. So there are such reactions that come from both the region and the West”, he added.

According to State Election Commission, V MRO DPMNE-aj has won 41 municipalities out of 80 the total of Northern Macedonia, and Skopje as a special unit of local government. The LSDM has won 16 municipalities, DUI has won ten municipalities, the EUSA Movement two municipalities -- the Alliance for Albanians as well as two municipalities -- while other parties from one municipality.