Skopje, 28 January 2024 (MIA) – The Parliament of North Macedonia is set to hold its 141st session on Sunday with a single item on the agenda – the election of a Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. Talat Xhaferi, who is set to assume the position of caretaker Prime Minister in the transitional government established 100 days ahead of the May 8 general elections, delivered the proposed composition and the Programme of the new government to Parliament on Saturday.

In the Programme, among other things, Xhaferi states that the government’s priority will be the successful holding of free, fair, and democratic elections on April 24 and May 8l; the continuation of all processes related to the launched accession talks with the European Union and accelerated European integration; growth and development of the economy; increase in the living standard by raising the minimum and average wage, as well as pensions in 2024; a reduction of inflation and maintaining price stability and employment; direct aid for the citizens and companies; rule of law; fight against crime and corruption; complete order in the country; and the continuation of reform processes on all state levels.

“To that end, on the basis of broad interparty dialogue, the government will enable an efficient implementation of the recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR and other international organizations in order to ensure the highest European standards during the process of election campaign and elections, i.e., to organize elections with full legality, legitimacy, and consensual recognition of the electoral will of the citizens,” states the Programme.

According to the Electoral Code and the Law on Government, transitional or caretaker governments consist of ministers from the ruling majority and the largest opposition party.

In the proposed composition for the transitional government, Bojan Marichikj is set to hold the post of First Deputy Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for European affairs, while Artan Grubi will be Minister of Political System and Inter-Community Relations.

VMRO-DPMNE’s Panche Toshkovski is the opposition party’s candidate for caretaker Interior Minister, while Gjoko Velkovski is the name put forward for the post of Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

Several ministers from SDSM, DUI and the Alliance for Albanians will retain their current posts: Justice Minister Krenar Lloga; Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani; Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi; Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi; Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski; Health Minister Fatmir Mexhiti; Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri; Local Self-Government Minister Risto Penov; Culture Minister Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska; Minister of Information Society and Administration Azir Aliu; Minister of Transport and Communications Blagoj Bochvarski; Minister of Environment and Physical Planning; as well as Fatmir Bytyqi, Minister without portfolio in charge of economic affairs; and Slavica Grkovska, Minister without portfolio in charge of good governance policies.

Parliament is expected to hold another session after the vote for the caretaker government, during which it will vote for the additional deputy ministers and verify the mandate of one MP who would replace Talat Xhaferi.

Ruling party SDSM put forward Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski’s chief of staff, Mitko Bojmacliev, as its candidate for additional Deputy Minister of Interior, and Jovanka Trenchevska for additional Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Policy.

VMRO-DPMNE proposed Elena Petrova for the position of additional Deputy Minister of Finance, Stefan Andonovski as additional Deputy Minister of Information Society and Administration, and Cvetan Tripunovski as additional Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy.

The transitional government will lead the country 100 days until the general elections on May 8, and will remain in charge until the election of a new government. Presidential elections will also be held two weeks before.

Xhaferi’s government is set to be the country’s third transitional or caretaker government since 2016. The caretaker government in 2016 was led by Emil Dimitriev, while the one in 2020 was headed by Oliver Spasovski.

Photo: MIA Archive