Crisis in FYROM: President Gjorge Ivanov Rejects Zoran Zaev

By Vladislav Perunović,
Skopje, FYROM

The President of the Former Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Ѓorge Ivanov addressed the nation in Wednesday, 16:30/17:30 Greek time local time on most television channels. Ivanov, a former university professor of law, suddenly withdraw his support to grant mandate to a government led by both Slavic social-democratic SDSM party and Albanian DUI. In the 15 minutes lasting explanation to the citizens of FYROM,was mostly based on Ivanov's attempts to present SDSM's and DUI's political platform as "plan emanating from a foreign state (clearly alluding to Republic of Albania)" which is "unconstitutional" (according to Ivanov, acceptance of such plan is a "challenge to the sovereignty of - the so-called - Republic of Macedonia).

This point was mentioned several times, with insight and reference to the particular part of the FYROM's constitution, in Ivanov’s interpretation. He mentioned the name of SDSM leader Zoran Zaev only once and mentioned later in the speech that, in essence, the coalition representatives "failed to guarantee that their platform does not challenge the unitary character of the state guaranteed by the constitution". Although Ivanov was the first to propose that he is willing to pass the mandate to any political coalition that can bring more than 60 signatures from newly elected Members of the Parliament and Zoran Zaev and DUI's Ahmeti, with support of some minor Albanian parties, did just that, today Ivanov withdrew his word.

Ivanov’s speech came in moment when with days in FYROM emerges a growing hardline "non-governmental organization" of ultra-nationalist "Macedonians" that want "red and yellow (national colors of FYROM) Macedonia [sic!]”, and extensively display Ancient Macedonian symbols and maps of “Greater Makedonija”. This organization, which goes under the name "Tvrdokorni" ("the Tough Ones") is quite hostile both to Pan-Albanism and Zaev, whom they point to as being an agent for such idea as well as someone who acts in favor of Greece on the name and identity issues is led by well-known VMRO-DPMNE activists.

Given the fact that SDSM has also many leftist, liberal, socialist, centrist and other supporters organized in "non-governmental organizations", most prominent of which were protagonists of the so-called Anti-Gruevski "Polychromatic Revolution", which are still organized, it can be safely said that Ivanov's public declaration of his previous conditions for government forum as null and void shall lead to anarchy in FYROM, possibly with violence within Slavic fractions.Meanwhile the role of Albanian political activists seems unclear in this moment.

Because of the militant, well-organized, hierarchy and secrecy based character of both entities that can promptly mobilize massive number of supporters, one can see a potential for a large conflict. This is most likely in form of street clashes, probably with little potential of the otherwise competent anti-riot police to stop them, a quite possible development after Ivanov’s sudden change of mind.


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