President Gjorge Ivanov's impeachment, which is being announced by opposition SDSM party, is a complex and lengthy procedure, which is unlikely to take place, Telegraf.mk reads.
Analyzing the deployment of forces in the Assembly, it is unrealistic to expect the gathering of the necessary two-third majority, in order for the initiative to get the green light. If it is put on the Parliament's agenda, the impeachment of the chief of state will be discussed by lawmakers for the first time in Macedonian history.
The opposition is calling for the president's withdrawal because of the general abolition decision with which he pardoned 56 individuals, most of whom are suspected by the Special Prosecutor's Office of affairs that have arisen as a consequence of the publicly shared wiretapped phone conversations.
.jpg)
The demolished presidential people's office as citizens demonstrated against his general abolition decision.
Ivanov decided to pardon these people last month, which was the reason for the emergence of voiced objections by the international factors, but also by the domestic public. The move also prompted daily protests that have been ongoing for over a month.
After the June 5 early general elections were cancelled and after the Assembly was reconvened, changes to the Law on Pardoning were passed, under which the abolition could be revoked if the president decides on his own to do so, and he is not obliged to provide an explanation. The second possibility entails a demand filed by the pardoned person, and the president would then be obliged to remove his decision within 30 days the latest.
The impeachment assessment proceedings is likely not to win the necessary two-third majority in the Assembly. But if this prospect is realized, then the constitutional judges need to vote in favor of the president's withdrawal by a two-third majority as well, as they are the sole legal entities who can determine whether the chief of state acted in line or against the laws and the Constitution.
The building housing the Macedonian Constitutional Court.
Provided the Constitutional Court passes the decision, the term of the country's president will end immediately and new elections will need to be called.