Mickoski opposes early elections: They would lead the country to bankruptcy

Early parliamentary elections are not an option, as they would seriously jeopardize the country’s financial situation. Such a process also lacks the support of the international community. Even if ZNAM, the party led by Maksim Dimitrievski, were to leave the governing coalition, elections would not be called because the parliamentary majority would remain intact without the party’s lawmakers.

These were Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s positions during a meeting with journalists, following a public clash between VLEN and ZNAM over the language in which the bar exam should be administered. Dimitrievski had warned that he might leave the government if the exam were also held in Albanian.

Mickoski said he had discussed the matter with Dimitrievski but did not clarify whether the ZNAM leader still stood by his threat to leave the government.

A meeting between the prime minister and VLEN co-leaders Izet Mexhiti and Bilall Kasami is expected to take place this afternoon. The meeting is also expected to settle the names of several deputy ministers nominated by this coalition partner, thereby completing the second-tier reshuffle of the government.

“At this point, that would be irresponsible. Politically, early elections might suit us, but we need to look at the situation in substance: over the next two years, we need to secure five billion euros. Next year alone, we will need 2.3 billion euros. Six months with a caretaker government would lead the country straight to bankruptcy. Moreover, this caretaker government would face the peak of the harshest winter in January and, perhaps partly, in February as well,” Mickoski said.