Accepting the resignation of Zoran Zaev from the presidency and setting a date for the election of a new leader of SDSM, is expected to be the epilogue of tonight's sessions of the highest party bodies, the Executive and the Central Board, a senior party official briefed for "Free Press".

It was more than certain that the Central Presidency of Alternative would accept the party to lead the negotiations to enter the Government. And whether there will be an agreement, will depend on how much the partners SDSM and DUI are ready to resign from their positions in the Government, briefed a senior official of Alternative.

At tonight's sessions of the Executive and the Central Board, a schedule, criteria, rulebook and date for the election of a new president of SDSM should be adopted. Our interlocutor says that it is possible that the whole procedure for electing a new leader will end before December 14, a date announced by Zaev himself, which is related to the expectations for obtaining a date for negotiations with the EU. If the party bodies accept Zaev's resignation, then December 12 is mentioned as a possible date when the party membership will vote for the new president of the party in direct elections.

SDSM says that at the meetings again a large number of Zaev's party members are expected to oppose his decision to resign from both the leadership and the prime minister. Zaev will have to present enough arguments and convince them - as he is convinced, at least it seems - why he should withdraw. It is interesting that no one has a clear answer, ie a plan that if Zaev insists on his resignation, and the party bodies refuse to "state it". Our sources say that Zaev's decision to leave is personal and that no one will be able to force him to stay in office if he decides to leave.

According to our sources, Zaev insists on the position that the new leader of SDSM should be the prime minister-designate for the composition of the new government. There is "verified" information that there is disagreement in the party on this issue. Specifically, the majority in it think that those two functions should be separated, ie the party leader (the new) should not be the Prime Minister.
If the deadlines for electing a new leader start tonight after the meetings of the party bodies, it will be clearer how many will aspire for that position.

For now, the public is speculating only on the name of Dimitar Kovacevski, Deputy Minister of Finance and member of the Executive Board of the party, especially after Zaev came with him to the meeting with the leader of Alternative, Afrim Gashi, during the negotiations for possible entry of that party in The government. The question remains whether Zaev invited him to the meeting to promote Kovacevski as the new leader of the party and as the new prime minister-designate. In this context, the position of Gashi is impressive, who in an interview with Serbian "Politika" said that he could not prejudge the outcome of the negotiations, but stressed that "we are negotiating with the current and future prime minister, and not with other parties involved in that government." . Despite the attempts, we failed to get an answer from Gashi whether he thinks of Kovacevski.

A senior Alternative official says the Central Presidency will decide to start negotiations for Alternative to join the government. Apart from the program commitments to be part of the government program, a condition of Alternative for joining the Government will be how much SDSM and DUI are ready to relinquish ministerial, deputy ministerial and director positions.

- We did not overthrow Zaev with the signatures for a vote of no confidence in the Government, but DUI. Let's wait and see what is the offer of SDSM, but also of DUI, for Alternative to become part of the government - says the official.

The expectations of Alternative are not only SDSM, but also DUI to resign from its positions in the Government. He vividly explains that if Alternative is offered, for example, 20 director positions, 15 to be given up by SDSM, and 5 by DUI. Their aspirations are for two ministerial posts or one minister and one "strong" director position.