Ruling VMRO-DPMNE reiterates that there is no possibility for any agreement to be reached with the opposition SDSM on early elections, nor for postponing the date of local poll.
However, VMRO-DPMNE offers an opportunity to SDSM, if the party agrees by 19.00h on Friday, a legal 3-4 day-extension for submission of councillor and mayoral lists, the ruling party says in response to SDSM press conference.
This move aims to leave no room to (SDSM leader Branko) Crvenkovski to say that there is no time for preparing the councillor lists or, if necessary, for possible amending of the Electoral Law in line with the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations and hence for him to present an additional excuse before citizens to not take part in the local elections, the VMRO-DPMNE said in a press release.
If this offer is refused, it will be clear that Crvenkovski wishes to avoid the elections, works in favor of somebody else, fights for his career, setting aside the state interests, the press release reads.
The ruling party says it sticks to the package for surpassing the current situation, offered by Prime Minister Nikola on 12 February 2013.
"Today's press conference has shown that SDSM leader Branko Crvenkovski is still living in the 1990s when Ljubco Georgievski was his political rival and when on daily basis they measured their egotism at so-called macho press-conferences to tell the public who was more powerful, fearless, failing in the process to promote something substantial," VMRO-DPMNE says.
Today the discussions are focused on concrete projects, programs, reforms, measures and now Brano Crvenkovski has a stable rival, which cannot be provoked by small-town press conferences, the party says.
In order to enable the opposition's participation and amendments to the Electoral Code in line with OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, the local elections should be postponed for one month and held on April 28. If the opposition "Alliance for the Future" wins at least one vote more than the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition, the early parliamentary elections should be held on September 29, Crvenkovski told a press conference on Friday.
He added these were the final proposals by the opposition towards overcoming the political crisis in the Republic of Macedonia.
Crvenkovski stressed that if the proposals were not accepted, the opposition would boycott the local elections, whereas MPs would submit their resignations to the Parliament. On the contrary, the opposition would return to the Assembly.
The SDSM leader said that if they won at least one vote less than the ruling coalition at the local poll, they would not ask for early parliamentary elections.
Regardless of the election results, Crvenkovski emphasized he would not seek another mandate as SDSM leader.
He expressed regret over the cancellation of previously scheduled visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule to Macedonia due to the political situation in the country.
