Counterspin: Gruevski with a new ditty – the Platform might be tenable, but only after general election

If so far the so called Platform signified treason, part of a secret plan that should have resulted in cantonization, federalization and finally a new name, if the so called Platform is unacceptable, because it has been drafted in a foreign country, then how VMRO-DPMNE finds its application OK, but after new general elections that could allow the actors that have been pushing it through to win the majority?

On 25 April 2017, VMRO-DPMNE’s president and an MP, Nikola Gruevski, gave statements about the possible resolution of the political crisis and inter alia he mentioned the following, which we deem as a spin:

Spin: “Once again, I confirm that the holding of snap general elections, simultaneously with the regularly planned local elections, which, by the way, have been delayed due to SDSM’s actions, are the best way to resolve this situation”.

Afterwards, they (SDSM, our remark) can come out with what they offer, with what they’ve accepted, with the Tirana Platform, with everything they want. If the citizens approve all of that, if they win the majority of votes, they can form the government and can fulfil what they have in mind and what they’ve promised somewhere. That’s what the citizens request with the protests, and Macedonia has never witnessed so lengthy and such huge protests in its streets, nearly 60 days. Every day, between 100 and 200 thousand citizens take the streets in around 30 towns in Macedonia. That’s something for which the opposition, i.e. SDSM and the parties with it, should think about and they should meet the nation, the citizens, halfway.

[Source: ВМРО-ДПМНЕ/веб страна, date: 25 April 2017]

Counterspin: Yesterday, in two separate situations, Nikola Gruevski delivered a brand new claim that only general elections could solve the crisis, because: the last general elections have been a fraud, the so called Tirana Platform hasn’t been presented as the base for coalition agreement between the current parliamentary majority (SDSM, the Alliance for Albanians, BESA, DUI) and that’s why the nation has been showing its revolt and 100-200 thousand citizens have been taking the streets of around thirty towns in Macedonia for sixty days and have been demanding new elections, therefore new general election would be for the best. And then, if SDSM wins the majority, “they can form the government and can fulfil what they have in mind and what they’ve promised somewhere”.

Gruevski’s statements leave us space to consider them as sheer spin and full of inconsistencies.

First – the so called Platform was a hot topic during the election and remained so afterward. Even before the elections, on rallies, the leadership of the Albanian parties in Macedonia has been promising many issues incorporated in the so called Platform. One of the main issues is the use of the language of the Albanians in Macedonia, an issue mentioned in Zoran Zaev’s statements as well. So, because of this, great deal of VMRO-DPMNE’s pre-election campaign covered this topic, partly formally by the party itself, partly informally by the media, which are believed to be under Gruevski’s control.

Besides, it’s a fact that the Platform, formally Declaration (DEKLARATË E PËRBASHKËT E PARTIVE POLITIKE SHQIPTARE NË REPUBLIKËN E MAQEDONISË), which is an ensemble of several parties’ expressed political will, was signed in Skopje and published on 7 January 2017. On January 9, Gruevski was entrusted with the mandate for negotiations for formation of new government. According to multiple sources (DUI, media, and Edi Rama), during the talks with DUI (which is the informal penner of the so called Platform), VMRO-DPMNE has accepted all the requests, not only regarding the use of the language of the Albanians, but also other issues comprised by the document. Both sides confirm that they haven’t been discussing the extension of the investigation mandate of the Special Prosecution Office due to VMRO-DPMNE’s reluctance.

Second – Again, Gruevski has come up with the thesis that the nation is only the one that supports Gruevski and VMRO-DPMNE’s positions. Sixty days, in around thirty towns, 100-200 thousand people have been protesting each day. Not only the numbers are incorrect, both about the number of people, and the number of places where protests are taking place (except the ones formally scheduled for March 13), but also the spin that the “nation is revolted” is persistently forced. That’s why, the election results acknowledged by VMRO-DPMNE should be persistently reminded to.

Furthermore, VMRO-DPMNE says that the “revolted nation” represents 38 percent of the turnout that has supported this party’s policies. The others, all together, who have supported parties with policies different than VMRO-DPMNE’s, i.e. the parties that now comprise the new parliamentary majority, represent more than 50 percent of the turnout. (These numbers are taken from SEC’s official website, and they show that out of 1.2 million voters’ turnout, 616.7 voters have voted for opposition parties that now have an agreement for parliamentary majority comprised of 67 MPs.)

Third and most important – If so far the so called Platform signified treason, part of a secret plan that should’ve resulted in cantonization, federalization and finally change of the name, if the so called Platform is unacceptable, because it has been drafted in a foreign country, then how VMRO-DPMNE finds its application OK, but after new general elections that would allow the actors that have been pushing it through to win the majority?

Afterward, they (SDSM, our remark) can come out with what they offer, with what they’ve accepted, with the Tirana Platform, with everything they want. If the citizens approve all of that, if they win the majority of votes, they can form the government and can fulfil what they have in mind and what they’ve promised somewhere – Gruevski says.

So, it turns out that the treason, bi-nationality, cantonization, federalization, change of name would have been OK? Because the voters, so to speak, would have brought a seat or two more to Zaev than to Gruevski…?!

Finally, Gruevski doesn’t mention what is he going to do and what his position is going to be if Ivanov reevaluates that he should not entrust the mandate to a certain parliamentary majority because that would make Macedonia dependent on foreign country…? Is he going to ask for election again?

The aforesaid arguments led us conclude that Gruevski’s statement is a truth spinning, i.e. spin. The intention is unwillingness to allow tranquil transfer of power to the already formed parliamentary majority, and all of this is masked by ephemeral causes i.e. false perils lurking the country that, as great deal of the public believes, hide personal interests.

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