After six months of deep political crisis, the Macedonian Parliament voted yesterday night for a new government led by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, the leader of the left-wing SDSM party.
The new cabinet was voted with 62 votes in favor, 44 against, and 5 abstentions, after two days of heavy debates between the VRMO-DPMNE, the party of former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and the new parliamentary majority.
The new government is formed by three parties, Zaev’s SDSM and two smaller Albanian parties, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) and the Alliance for Albanians. In total the SDSM and the two Albanian parties have a majority of 62 mandates. The Besa Movement decided at the last moment not to join the government coalition, but has stated that it will support the government with its 5 votes in Parliament.
Of the 25 ministries and other official government posts, SDSM has 17, the BDI 6 (including 4 ministers), and the AA 2. The Albanian minority parties will lead the following ministries:
- Kreshnik Bekteshi (BDI) – Ministry of Economy
- Bylent Salihu (BDI) – Ministry of Justice
- Sadulla Duraku (BDI) – Ministry of Environment and Planning
- Ramiz Merko (BDI) – Minister without Portfolio
- Hazbi Lika (BDI) – Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System and Relations between the Comunities
- Bujar Osmani (BDI) – Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration
- Arben Taravari (AA) – Ministry of Health
- Suhejl Fazliu (AA) – Ministry of Local Self-Government
The Speaker of Parliament, Talat Xhaferi, elected some weeks ago, is also from the Albanian minority.
After his government had been installed, Prime Minister Zaev declared that he will be prime minister of everyone and will work with responsibility for big reforms.
Zaev stated that his government is based on citizenship and integrity and will focus on three main targets: economic growth and developments; imposing justice and the rule of law; integration of the country into the NATO and EU. He also said that the government will follow a zero-tolerance policy against corruption, announcing the creation of a special court that would treat high-level corruption, as well as a deep reform of the judicial system to remove the influence of politics on justice.
