Macedonian Opposition Leader Refuses Participation at Reconciliation Meeting

The leader of the opposition SDSM (Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia), Zoran Zaev during the press conference at the party headquarters in Skopje, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, March 06, 2015. Photo: EPA

The Macedonian opposition SDSM leader Zoran Zaev refused to participate at the reconciliation meeting between the four largest parties, which was reportedly scheduled to take place on Thursday.

According to media reports, Zaev would accept a meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski only in the presence of international mediators and representatives of the international community.

The opposition leader dismissed the possibility of Gruevski heading a broad coalition government.

Zaev called for the establishment of an interim government, which should prepare Macedonia for the holding of free, fair and democratic elections.

The SDSM leader ruled out the participation of the incumbent prime minister and other people involved in crimes in an interim cabinet.

Following the resignations of the interior and transport ministers on Tuesday, Zaev announced on Wednesday that his party would not return to parliament.

The opposition leader released the latest in a series of wiretapped conversations, which according to him, demonstrated the misuse of public tenders by government officials, including PM Gruevski, who was accused of purchasing a luxurious Mercedes for his own needs with the illegally acquired funds.

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