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Macedonia’s Prime Minister to Step Down, Paving Way for April Elections Macedonia’s Prime Minister to Resign, Paving Way for April Elections
(35 minutes later)
SKOPJE, Macedonia — Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of Macedonia, reeling from a long-running scandal over the secret wiretapping of thousands of people, has agreed to step down by January to pave the way for new elections in the spring. SKOPJE, Macedonia — Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of Macedonia, reeling from a long-running scandal over the wiretapping of thousands of people, has agreed to step down by Jan. 15 to pave the way for new elections in the spring.
The deal was announced early Wednesday after 13 hours of final negotiations between Mr. Gruevski and leaders of the opposition. Johannes Hahn, a European Union commissioner, mediated the talks The deal was announced early Wednesday after 13 hours of final negotiations between Mr. Gruevski and leaders of the opposition. Johannes Hahn, a European Union commissioner, mediated the talks.
The agreement calls for the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, the main opposition party, which had walked out of Parliament in a dispute with the governing party, to return to the legislature. After the prime minister resigns, a new government will take control and ease the way for elections on April 24.The agreement calls for the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, the main opposition party, which had walked out of Parliament in a dispute with the governing party, to return to the legislature. After the prime minister resigns, a new government will take control and ease the way for elections on April 24.
“The political crisis is over,” said Mr. Gruevski, who will be eligible to run again for prime minister in the spring. “I am happy with the agreement reached.”“The political crisis is over,” said Mr. Gruevski, who will be eligible to run again for prime minister in the spring. “I am happy with the agreement reached.”
Zoran Zaev, the leader of the Social Democrats, took a hard line Wednesday morning, saying the agreement amounted to confirmation that Mr. Gruevski and his party “stole” previous campaigns. “This agreement is a guarantee for fair and democratic elections,” he said.Zoran Zaev, the leader of the Social Democrats, took a hard line Wednesday morning, saying the agreement amounted to confirmation that Mr. Gruevski and his party “stole” previous campaigns. “This agreement is a guarantee for fair and democratic elections,” he said.
The crisis began in February, when Mr. Zaev revealed that the opposition party had copies of more than 670,000 secretly recorded conversations involving more than 20,000 phone numbers — including conversations involving top government officials plotting to rig elections, control judges, punish opponents, arrange suspicious business deals and cover up killings.The crisis began in February, when Mr. Zaev revealed that the opposition party had copies of more than 670,000 secretly recorded conversations involving more than 20,000 phone numbers — including conversations involving top government officials plotting to rig elections, control judges, punish opponents, arrange suspicious business deals and cover up killings.
The opposition said that the wiretaps had been ordered by senior government officials, and that the recordings had been obtained from unidentified workers in the Ministry of Interior who wanted to expose the project.The opposition said that the wiretaps had been ordered by senior government officials, and that the recordings had been obtained from unidentified workers in the Ministry of Interior who wanted to expose the project.
Mr. Gruevski, for his part, says that the recordings were made by the “intelligence services” of an unidentified foreign country, working in collusion with the opposition to topple his government.Mr. Gruevski, for his part, says that the recordings were made by the “intelligence services” of an unidentified foreign country, working in collusion with the opposition to topple his government.
Over several months, Mr. Zaev released what he called “bombs,” selected snippets from the recordings, which prompted protests in the capital and led to international pressure on the government.Over several months, Mr. Zaev released what he called “bombs,” selected snippets from the recordings, which prompted protests in the capital and led to international pressure on the government.
Some top government officials resigned, including ones who were caught on tape making incendiary statements, but the moves failed to cool protests at home and abroad.Some top government officials resigned, including ones who were caught on tape making incendiary statements, but the moves failed to cool protests at home and abroad.
The deal was signed by Mr. Gruevski’s conservative party, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, the Social Democrats and two parties representing Macedonia’s ethnic Albanian minority.The deal was signed by Mr. Gruevski’s conservative party, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, the Social Democrats and two parties representing Macedonia’s ethnic Albanian minority.
The accord calls for the parties to agree on the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the wiretapping scandal. That prosecutor will also look into accusations the government has leveled against Mr. Zaev and others, including that they tried to seize power forcibly and took bribes.The accord calls for the parties to agree on the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the wiretapping scandal. That prosecutor will also look into accusations the government has leveled against Mr. Zaev and others, including that they tried to seize power forcibly and took bribes.
In October, the Social Democrats will nominate a candidate for the position of interior minister. The same month, the party will be allowed to appoint one of its own members as minister of labor and social affairs. In October, the Social Democrats will nominate a candidate for the position of interior minister who is not affiliated with any of the political parties, and whose confirmation requires the approval of the other parties. The same month, the Social Democrats will be allowed to appoint one of their own members as minister of labor and social affairs.
In January, the governing party will nominate a new prime minister who will act in a “technical capacity” and be charged with overseeing the elections.In January, the governing party will nominate a new prime minister who will act in a “technical capacity” and be charged with overseeing the elections.
“It will be very difficult to implement this agreement without serious monitoring from the European Union and the international community, and the direct participation of the opposition and civil society groups in the whole process,” said Bojan Maricic, a political analyst for the Macedonian Center for European Education.“It will be very difficult to implement this agreement without serious monitoring from the European Union and the international community, and the direct participation of the opposition and civil society groups in the whole process,” said Bojan Maricic, a political analyst for the Macedonian Center for European Education.
The negotiations that led to the deal on Wednesday, which began a couple of months before, do not inspire optimism that the agreement will be carried out smoothly, he said.The negotiations that led to the deal on Wednesday, which began a couple of months before, do not inspire optimism that the agreement will be carried out smoothly, he said.
The most important element will be free and fair elections in the spring, Mr. Maricic added, and the appointment of a genuinely independent special prosecutor will be crucial.The most important element will be free and fair elections in the spring, Mr. Maricic added, and the appointment of a genuinely independent special prosecutor will be crucial.
“It will be difficult for all the deadlines to be met,” Mr. Maricic said. “It is a short time frame.”“It will be difficult for all the deadlines to be met,” Mr. Maricic said. “It is a short time frame.”