Gruevski warns of ‘Danger’ for Macedonia after Social Democrats reach agreement with ethnic Albanian DUI

Skopje, Macedonia | Tirana Echo – Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE has warned Macedonia may be in danger after Social Democratic head Zoran Zaev secured the support of ethnic Albanian party DUI to form a new government, breaking the “Winner-Winner” principle for the first time since 2007.

Last night the main ethnic Albanian party Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) announced they will back the formation of a social-democratic led government but they might not be part of it. The announcement came after DUI found an agreement with SDSM over a law backing broader use of the Albanian language in the small Balkan country.

DUI Spokesperson Bujar Osmani said yesterday that “the fact that DUI will sign off on a social-democratic government does not imply our participation in the government”, adding that talks between SDSM and DUI will continue.

Osmani said that DUI aims at achieving its objectives and not to take part in the government and hinted that another alternative is the possibility to stay in opposition.

However, the SDSM – DUI agreement has angered former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his VMRO DPMNE party militants who have warned the country may go through a period of instability as the crucial ‘Winner-Winner’ principle had been broken.

The principle refers to existing political consensus in Macedonia where the first party of majority Slavic speaking voters is expected to form the governing coalition with the first party of minority Albanian speaking voters, which make up more than 30% of the population.

“Macedonia in the past existed only by respecting agreements such as the May Agreement of 2007, where it is stated that the winner of the Albanian community goes with the winning partner of the Macedonian community. Respecting this principle is very important in order to keep the significance it has with the Albanian community and in order to keep the logic of Albanians in the elections,” Osmani said, in an attempts to satisfy Gruevski’s ears.

Osmani referred to the May Agreement of 2007 introduced after VMRO-DPMNE, following the elections of 2006 decided to make a coalition with DPA although DUI had won more votes across the Albanian community back then. After the agreement, the coalition dropped DPA and continued with DUI, establishing an unbroken governing principle until today.

Last night threatening graffiti were found in Skopje, warning that a federal and bilingual Macedonia will never be tolerated.

Gruevski’s VMRO-DPMNE, who has governed with DUI for warned last night that the will of the majority of Macedonian citizens has been ignored while accusing interferences from Tirana which have pushed for the Albanian language to be official across Macedonia.

“The platform from Tirana and attempts to make the Albanian language official, redefine Macedonia against all principles of a multi-ethnic state, because it ignores other ethnic groups in the country” – said a statement from VMRO-DPMNE, adding that parts of the SDSM proposal to make Macedonia bilingual are unacceptable, dangerous and damaging to national interests.

VMRO has accused Albanian Prime minister Edi Rama of interfering in Macedonia’s internal affairs after he invited all ethnic Albanian parties to Tirana last month pushing them to stand together in defending the interests of the Albanian speaking minority in the neighboring country.

A day earlier, VMRO gathered all its structures across the country warning its militants that Gruevski’s party is going on the offensive.

“We’re going on the offensive, Our fatherland has been attacked. Macedonia must be protected. Troubled times ahead and lots of energy for Spring. War for VMRO and Macedonia – We Will Win!” said a text message sent to VMRO-DPMNE militants.

Macedonia has been without a new government for more than two months, since the December 11 elections ended with a near-tie between the former ruling VMRO DPMNE party and the opposition SDSM. VMRO DPMNE won 51 of the 120 seats in parliament, while the SDSM won 49. The head of the winning VMRO DPMNE party, Nikola Gruevski, was first given the mandate but missed the deadline to form a majority.

The period of instability prompted some outside players to question the whole future of Macedonia as a country. Last month Macedonia’s authorities went ballistic at US Congressman Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) for saying Macedonia is not a country and that it should be divided.

The long delay in forming a new government has been largely down to the DUI’s indecisiveness about whom to support since the election.
The party, which since 2008 had been in a coalition government with VMRO DPMNE, has insisted it needs more time to decide which of the main parties to support this time.

Last night’s announcement is likely to create a powerful landslide in the future of Macedonia’s political life.