The new President-elect, Gjorge Ivanov, by May 27 at latest, shall hand over the mandate to the Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, to form a government, after VMRO-DPMNE's victory at the last week's elections. It will most probably be the first task of the President in his second term of office, Utrinski Vesnik daily reports.
PM Gruevski will assign ministers for the new Government of the Republic of Macedonia that will consist mostly of ministers from VMRO-DPMNE. That is the only thing that is clear for the time being.
Politicians estimate that Gruevski this time as well will make partial changes of ministers, something he did after 2008 and 2011 elections. It means that in the Government he would keep some of his closest associates, namely the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health. There is a possibility that some of the hitherto ministers switch departments.
Department 'switch'
Jankuloska and Stavreski have been at the same positions in the Government for eight years now, same as the Prime Minister. In 2009, Stavreski, besides Vice Prime Minister position, took over the Finance Department and remained there after the 2011 elections. It is not certain whether he would keep both positions in the future Government.
Todorov entered the Government in 2009, first as Minister of Education, then of Health, so there is a possibility that he would change department.
For Nikola Poposki, there is a possibility to keep the Minister of Foreign Affairs post, while Antonio Milososki, former Foreign Minister, could stay in the Parliament or return in the Government, despite the rumors for his ambassadorial posting.
Among the ministers who are expected to change departments is the Minister of Culture, Elizabeta Kanceska Mileska. It is uncertain whether Mile Janakieski, Minister of Transport and Communications, who was not even a parliamentary candidate, will keep his position. Spiro Ristovski, although not included in the MP candidate list, is believed to be part of the new Government again, whereas Dime Spasov, Minister of Labor and Social Policy, is expected to move to the Parliament.
In the past eight years, Gruevski had not been inclined to big changes in his Cabinet and he had not even once made a radical reconstruction of the Government. Thus, there are ministers, such as Ivo Ivanovski (Information Society) and Vele Samak (Investments), who have been in his Cabinet since the very beginning.
Last week's elections reinforced the positions of both hitherto major ruling parties in the Parliament, VMRO-DPMNE and DUI, though they entered the election cycle with fierce confrontations. This is expected to affect their negotiations for continuation of their coalition and thus the future composition of the executive power.
Trajko Veljanoski – first to be tested
It has not yet been decided whether the Speaker of the Parliament, Trajko Veljanoski, will keep his position. It will depend on the agreement VMRO-DPMNE would reach with the potential Albanian partner and the inter-party assessment regarding the necessity for a change in this position. However, the name of the new Speaker of the Parliament should be known prior the eighth constitutive session of the Parliament, which is to be held by May 17.
Political circles have been speculating that DUI is aiming to the presiding chair in the Parliament. A high official of VMRO-DPMNE says that if this happens, problems in communication with President Gjorge Ivanov might arise due to their negative position towards him. So, it would be logical that this time VMRO-DPMNE will have a Minister of Defense of its rows, besides the Minister of Internal Affairs, that closely cooperates with the President.
