Skopje, 8 February 2023 (MIA) — The Alliance for Albanians has reached an agreement to join the government coalition and get three ministerial posts in the future government, according to AA sources familiar with the matter who said their party members were to be appointed Minister of Justice and Minister of Health, and either Deputy Prime Minister in charge of Economic Affairs or Minister of Information Society and Administration. 

Even though SDSM sources told MIA talks on the new parliamentary majority were ongoing and no decisions were final yet, the AA sources said it had been agreed the party would also get the posts of Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy and Deputy Minister of Defense as well as two state secretaries, one in the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and another one in another ministry.

AA had also negotiated to have their party members appointed heads of North Macedonia’s Postal Service; MEPSO; the State Educational Inspectorate; and the Agency for the Management of Confiscated Property. Their members were also to be appointed deputy directors of the Customs Administration, the Public Revenue Office; and Power Plants of North Macedonia, the sources said.

Earlier, party sources told MIA that SDSM leader and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski would hold a meeting with current coalition partners before announcing the final agreement with AA. This, they said, was to primarily discuss options with Alternativa members for them to remain in the government majority.

Alternativa vice president and current Minister of Health Bekim Sali said Wednesday his party had not gotten a "concrete proposal on the table" for any posts in the future government. He added he did not know what posts had been offered to the AA and declined to comment further.

After meeting with current coalition partners, PM Kovachevski is expected to also meet with AA leader Arben Taravari to confirm the ministerial posts the party would get to fill as the newest government partner.

The AA sources said the final decision should be made by Thursday at the latest because Taravari was to travel on Friday. mr/