During today’s parliamentary session on opposition questions, opposition SDSM MP Jovana Trençevska called for a written response to be sent in the absence of Minister Ivan Stoilković on whether he would apologize to MPs and citizens for the swearing, insults and attempt to engage in a physical altercation in Parliament. She also asked for clarification on whether Stoilković intends to resign.

Trençevska said Stoilković’s appointment to a ministerial post following the restructuring of the Government was not accidental. According to her, this guarantees that Vučić’s influence will continue to be institutionalized within the Government.

“Instead of serving the citizens of Macedonia, Mickoski, with such a cabinet, continues to serve the interests of third parties,” she said.

The SDSM MP stressed that the minister’s conduct, including insulting MPs and attempting to engage in a physical altercation in Parliament, represented the most serious aspect of this episode.

“Such behavior is unbecoming of an MP and a minister. Stoilković cannot evade responsibility simply because he has the support of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. ‘Talog,’ ‘mekoteli,’ ‘kolenichari,’ ‘glodari,’ ‘mediokriteti’… These are not merely political positions, but contempt for citizens expressed from the highest state office,” Trençevska said.

She accused Stoilković of never apologizing to citizens or MPs even after these actions, while following the Government reshuffle he was rewarded with a new ministerial post.

Trençevska also criticized Prime Minister Mickoski for his silence regarding Stoilković’s views on Ratko Mladić, who was convicted of war crimes.

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SDSM accused Hristijan Mickoski of pursuing a policy similar to Vučić’s by protecting officials who glorified convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.

The ruling party said European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos canceled her planned visit to Serbia today because of the glorification of Mladić.

“The message from the European Union and Kos is more than clear. The glorification accompanying his death does not correspond to the values on which the path toward the EU is built. This path requires coming to terms with the past, genuine reconciliation and respect for the victims of war crimes,” Marta Kos wrote on X.

According to SDSM, today’s statement by the European Union confirms precisely the concerns the party had raised following developments in Macedonia.

“The glorification of a war criminal is incompatible with European values,” the party said in its response.

Nevertheless, after their positions and statements in support of the glorification of Mladić, Mickoski defended Ivan Stoilković and Dalibor Kitanović.

SDSM stressed that there were neither resignations nor dismissals nor any assumption of responsibility, saying that Mickoski consciously chose to support them.

“It is now even clearer where this policy of Mickoski is taking Macedonia, built according to Vučić’s recipe: deliberate isolation, moving away from the EU, an anti-European campaign and commitment to the Russian agenda,” SDSM’s statement concluded.

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The European Union has condemned the glorification of war criminal Ratko Mladić, while VLEN has not dared even to mention the name of Ivan Stoilković, who holds such views. In a statement, DUI described this silence as a serious issue for the public.

According to DUI, VLEN has not been content merely to remain silent about Stoilković’s statements and the appointment of members of his party to important state positions, but has also supported them through its votes in Parliament.

DUI recalls that, during this period, circumstances have emerged indicating the expansion of the influence of structures and interests linked to the so-called “Serbian world” project in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Ivan Stoilković has publicly referred to the Republic of Kosovo as “Kosovo and Metohija,” while, according to DUI, VLEN has not reacted in any way.

“The institutions of the European Union have also condemned the glorification of Ratko Mladić, underscoring that honoring individuals convicted of war crimes directly contradicts European values. Nevertheless, this does not appear to concern Ivan Stoilković, his party or the people belonging to this political structure, who continue to glorify and relativize the greatest criminals of the last century in Europe after the Second World War. Faced with this situation, VLEN does not dare even to mention the name of Ivan Stoilković. Their silence raises a serious question for the public, especially since Stoilković himself has stated that VLEN representatives should be careful because, according to him, he has ‘saved them from public disgrace’ two or three times. The question is unavoidable: what connects VLEN with Ivan Stoilković, and why do they not have the courage to condemn him?”

“Since the formation of this government, Stoilković and his political structures have been favored with important state positions. The post of deputy prime minister for implementing the Ohrid Framework Agreement, a document of vital importance for Albanians and other communities, was given to a political structure linked to this orientation. Meanwhile, Dalibor, an official close to Stoilković, was appointed director of the Agency for Community Rights. A series of developments and projects then began that raise major concerns about the penetration of the so-called ‘Serbian world’ project into the Republic of North Macedonia. VLEN, not just once but on several occasions, has not only remained silent but has also defended Stoilković: through its vote in Parliament, by blocking the adoption of initiatives seeking his accountability and dismissal; through its silence regarding the attacks, insults and offenses he directed at Albanian MPs; and through propaganda, by relativizing, disguising and justifying his decisions and actions, even fiercely attacking Albanians who oppose Stoilković.”

“During this time, other actions were also enabled that demonstrate the growing presence of structures and interests linked to the ‘Serbian world’ project in the country. Activities and marches by Serbian military structures were held, along with parades and visits by Serbian ministers to North Macedonia, accompanied by provocative statements that these lands are Serbia, while senior political figures, including Milorad Dodik, also visited the country. In the energy sector, the director of MEPSO, an official affiliated with VLEN, signed an agreement for the electricity transmission-line project with Albania with companies close to Milorad Dodik. This has raised concerns about the extension of this influence into a strategic sector such as energy. Alta Bank has entered the banking sector, MTL is seen as a foothold in telecommunications, while in the media sphere, a Serbian television station has been established in the Republic of North Macedonia.”

“Most recently, Nedim Rama, who is close to Izet Mexhiti and a senior official at NOMAGAS, signed an agreement with the Serbian side on the gasification project between North Macedonia and Serbia. It is no coincidence that, for two consecutive years, the European Parliament has expressed concern that figures within this government are promoting and helping expand the influence of the ‘Serbian world’ in the Republic of North Macedonia.”

“Ivan Stoilković has publicly referred to the Republic of Kosovo as ‘Kosovo and Metohija,’ while VLEN has not uttered a word. Therefore, the question for VLEN is direct: when will you demand the removal from the government of Ivan Stoilković and his officials, who glorify Ratko Mladić and other war criminals? If you possess even one element of Albanian national responsibility and commitment to European values, then in this government either those who glorify war criminals must leave, or you must leave. But you are showing no courage to do either. The longer you continue to remain silent, the clearer it becomes that your silence is not neutrality, but political protection and shared responsibility. Go home as soon as possible, because with this silence and political submission you have brought shame upon Albanian political representation.”

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DUI’s parliamentary group today submitted an initiative to Parliament to establish an Inquiry Committee into the incident involving Local Self-Government Minister Ivan Stoilković. The incident occurred on the day the government was reshuffled and Stoilković was appointed to his new post. According to the initiative, the Inquiry Committee should analyze the chronology of the incident and the actions of each person involved.

The initiative to establish the Inquiry Committee was also supported by the opposition SDSM. The party’s leader, Venko Filipče, also announced during a meeting with journalists that an interpellation would be filed against Stoilković over his insults, threats and violent behavior.

Filipče said that an initiative to establish an Inquiry Committee into what happened during the government reshuffle had already been launched in relation to Ivan Stoilković. He explained that SDSM representatives had signed it to help secure the number of signatures required for the initiative to be accepted, while the interpellation against the minister would be submitted as soon as Parliament resumes work in September.

Bekim Rexhepi of DUI said that Parliament Speaker Gashi was in the institution when the incident occurred, which, according to him, was caused by Minister Stoilković. Rexhepi stressed that the party would insist on an Inquiry Committee, as the incident could not be considered insignificant. He described the case as an insult to MPs elected by citizens and said DUI would insist that it be clarified as soon as possible to prevent it from happening again.

The document submitted to Parliament also highlights as an important issue the refusal to allow access to footage recorded by the institution’s official video surveillance system. The initiative argues that, since the incident occurred during the performance of public duties and involved state officials, there is a clear public interest in subjecting all relevant evidence to institutional review.

SDSM also asked Parliament Speaker Gashi to provide the recordings of the incident that occurred in the corridor, immediately outside the doors of the parliamentary chamber. Gashi, however, told journalists yesterday that footage from inside the chamber could be made available, while recordings made outside it could not be provided because of the Personal Data Protection Law.

Asked whether he had also insulted MP Arbana Pasholli during the incident, Stoilković rejected the allegations, calling them fabricated. The local self-government minister said he could not respond to fantasies and baseless claims, adding that he could similarly claim that the MP had insulted him. Ivan Stoilković denied speaking to her or having any physical or other contact with her, stressing that he did not know how to deny an event that, according to him, had never happened.

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