Zulfiqar Zejnulla appointed minister without portfolio, government cabinet reshuffle finalized

The long-awaited government restructuring process was finalized today by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. Parliament approved the appointment of Zulfiqar Zejnulla, leader of the Democratic Party of Turks, as minister without portfolio.

His appointment came after successful coalition negotiations between VMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party of Turks. As a result of this agreement, MP Bejxhan Iljas, who had won his mandate under the umbrella of the European Front led by DUI, crossed over to the parliamentary majority. Thus, the parliamentary bloc led by VMRO-DPMNE now reaches 59 lawmakers, not counting the VLEN and ZNAM coalition allies.

The vote for Zejnulla was held in a session separate from that of other new ministers. This was done to meet the legal criterion allowing the prime minister to change up to one-third of cabinet members. A broader replacement would be considered the formation of a new executive.

During his address in Parliament, Mickoski argued that institutions should be led by individuals who take responsibility and commit to finding solutions to citizens’ concerns. He also underscored the need for a political approach that fosters unity rather than division.

On the other hand, opposition representatives viewed this appointment as yet another political bargain, emphasizing that beyond the candidate’s ethnic origin, what matters are his platform and his ability to perform the duties.

According to official biographical data, Zejnulla has a career in public service and the security sector. He held the position of deputy director in the Directorate for Protection and Rescue from 2021 to 2024. Previously, he served as a councilor on the Gostivar Municipal Council and was involved in the legal department of the Democratic Party of Turks, alongside experience gained in the private sector.

A graduate of Criminology at the Faculty of Security at “St. Clement of Ohrid” University in Bitola, Zejnulla speaks, in addition to his native Turkish, Macedonian, Albanian, German, and Serbian.