President Stevo Pendarovski today will hand over the mandate for the composition of a new government to the leader of SDSM Dimitar Kovacevski. The event announced by the President's Office at 13 pm will be broadcast live on Facebook page and YouTube President Pendarovski's channel.

The Assembly last week confirmed the resignation of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, which began the ten-day deadline in which President Pendarovski should entrust the mandate to form a new government.

The Central Board of SDSM at the session on Monday officially confirmed Kovacevski as a candidate for a new prime minister.

- From the moment of giving the mandate, the President of the state according to Article 210 of the Rules of Procedure should inform the President of the Assembly for giving the mandate to start the deadlines in the Assembly. The prime minister-designate within 20 days of receiving the mandate, ie no later than the 20th day of receiving the mandate, should appear before the Parliament with a proposal of the new government and the work program of the government, Xhaferi said, answering a journalist question. about the expectations when a new government would be elected.

Xhaferi expressed hope that the prime minister-designate will not go to the deadlines, taking into account, as he said, all the negotiations that have been done before and all the announcements regarding possible individual personal decisions that were made public.

- In any case, the variants for organization of the work of the Assembly are provided, and if that is the deadline - the 20th day, and if the deadline is shorter. But, in any case, at the moment when the personnel and the program of the government are received, then the deadline of the Assembly begins, within 15 days from that moment to convene a session for election of the government. The session lasts two days. On the second day, before midnight, a vote should be held for a new government and I expect somewhere on the 24th - 10th to receive a proposed composition of the government and a program and based on consultations with the parliamentary groups in the Assembly, to set a date for holding session. Most likely it will be January 11th, 15th, ie if the proposal is received on 16-10, 11-15 to hold a debate for two days, on the second day at 16, before 16:24 to vote for the new government, which on 17 In the morning, he would take over the functions in the ministries, ie in the government as a team with mandates and all the powers that arise from the decision with the election, Xhaferi explained.

According to the President of the Assembly, the new government has a majority of 64 MPs and that will actually show the vote.

The processes regarding the formation of the new government were among the topics of Kovacevski's meeting with the US Ambassador to the country, Kate Mary Burns, to which he thanked the United States for its continued support to the country and all its citizens. He stressed, announced by SDSM, that as president of SDSM and prime minister-designate for the composition of the new government, he will be guided by the principles of unity, responsibility, commitment and efficiency, and he will demand that from his associates.

- My position and principle is zero tolerance for corruption at any level, especially for holders of high, public office. To this end, I will focus on strengthening the capacity of anti-corruption institutions. Efficient, responsible and dedicated, said Kovacevski.

Regarding the issue with Bulgaria and European integration, he assessed that it is necessary to find a mutually acceptable solution in order to remove the blockade and Northern Macedonia to finally start negotiations with the EU, something it has long deserved.

- We have met all the conditions for the start of negotiations. We remain committed to finding a solution with neighboring Bulgaria to continue our European path. After the election as Prime Minister, I will invite Mr. Petkov to visit our country. The most important thing for us is to make a plan, together with the Bulgarian government, to remove the blockade as soon as possible, of course with a mutually acceptable solution. We need to stay committed and engaged in conversations with an honest approach. "If the new Bulgarian government has the same approach, I believe it is possible to find a compromise on open issues," Kovachevski said.

Ambassador Burns congratulated Kovacevski on the election of SDSM president, saying that the United States continues to be the largest strategic partner of Northern Macedonia, both in terms of implementing reforms and the European integration process.

To be elected, at least 61 members of parliament must vote for Kovacevski's proposed cabinet. The new parliamentary majority composed of the coalition led by SDSM, together with DUI, Alternativa and DPA has 64 MPs in the Assembly.

Source: MIA