In the new sequel of his major interview with Telegraf.mk, VMRO-DPMNE president, Nikola Gruevski, our readers will have the opportunity to read why he decided not to re-assume the prime minister's post, whether he plans a refreshment of his team, what are his future priorities and other current topics.
T: Why did not you return to the position of Government president?
"For me, Macedonia's interests come first. I agreed to this unconventional agreement for the majority of the European countries, to withdraw from the government president position 100 days before the elections. I've kept my word, and abided to my commitment in a gentleman fashion. Unfortunately, the other concerned sides, above all SDSM, has not fulfilled its commitment and ran away from the elections.
I've decided that for the time being I will not return to that post because I don't want to leave the impression that the moves I make are aimed at reaching some personal goal or position. I want to show that things can function differently, while one can be successful and of much use.
If I assumed the post again now, many would've thought that maybe I was leading the country in some kind of a risk to be a prime minister. That's not my priority. My priority was always the mutual success, both of the party and the state. If this contributes to lower the tensions in society just a little bit, then it's better.
On the other hand, maybe this will help me a little to dedicate myself more to party activities and to better prepare for the next elections. In any case, as the party's president, which has asked for and has received the support of the citizens for the elections, I'm aware of my responsibility in terms of the Government's work, and I will certainly follow and aid in this segment.
I understand perfectly that at elections, the people gives its trust to the party and its leader, and not to the Government. And demands accountability and responsibility from the party and the head which it trusts. And there's no running away from that.
That's why I will continue to work on the ground, with an enhanced pace from now on. I will meet with people, talk to them and help them. The politician is worth as much as the problems he solve. The people is not interested in violent scenarios and demagogy, but realistic projects and steps that would solve its real problems.
I've never put myself first. If that were the case, I would most probably do something else and would lead a far more peaceful and prettier life. For me, the country and the citizens of Macedonia come first. At the next elections, regardless if they are held in the regular time frame in 2018 or earlier, if all the parties coordinate regarding the date when everyone will participate with certainty, they will decide who should win. The party that I lead and I, we are ready to face the people. To state what we've done and what we can do in future, and they will be the judge of that.
T: How long do you plan to function like this. Will there be a reconstruction, a refreshment?
"The priority is to overcome the crisis and solve the problems, and the country to move forward. The position from where I will fight for that is less important.
The refreshment in the Government members from the VMRO-DPMNE lines has sense if the elections don't take place soon. If those who will come have enough time to show themselves and to present themselves before the ballot arrives. if the elections come soon, than the refreshment would be effectuated after that. We'll see. We have a situation where SDSM says it wants snap elections, but in fact it doesn't want early elections because it knows it will lose.
For that purpose, to prolong the elections, they turn to various excuses, including the voters registry and things alike. And everybody sees that, even the international factor, although SDSM will never say that publicly. So, they don't want to participate in the elections, but they do want to be part of the government, as if they had won the elections. And if not, they make threats that they would cause problems that are problems of the state and the people, in the bottom line. They can continue behaving like this. From a party's point of view, this works in our favor.
T: But that is not good for the country. Hence, do you consider introducing a sort of an opposition inclusiveness process, which would need to show a higher democratic capacity as a party, on one hand, and would contribute to calming the tensions on the other?
"We're open for inclusiveness and we want the opposition to be involved in all important processes. However, the last attempt has shown that when we allowed them in in the Government, they abused the move.
Instead of working together with us, towards our mutual goals for the country, instead of their representatives showing an even greater interest for solving the citizens' problems by implementing projects that are beneficial for the people and the state, instead of seeing it as a chance to stand out by hard work and results, their representatives in the Government have abused the positions to the maximum in order to halt the processes, reforms, the elections preparations and everything that can be halted, suspended.
A very destructive behavior, and its detrimental for both their party and the people and the country. Therefore, we've decided to restore the VMRO-DPMNE coalition, and of course, before the next elections whenever they happen, we'll act in line with the law and the Skopje 2015 June/July Agreement and 100 days before the ballot we'll enable all the privileges in line with that deal and the law.
The aim of that agreement and law was to make them feel more comfortable in the elections process, in the sense of allowing them to have an insight into the electoral processes from up close. But see what a charade they made out of the institutions just so they can obstruct the elections preparations, so they would be late with their work and to postpone the ballot. They did it mainly through the Interior Ministry, whose minister put maximum efforts to halt SEC's work.
T: What will the Government priorities consist of until the next elections when SDSM finally gives the green light?
"If we manage to win enough time before the next elections, the reforms will be the priority.
While SDSM didn't announce that the electoral roll was completely purged and while they deal with and look for an excuse in it, because the registry has been purged a long time ago, we as I said, should commit to the reforms' realization, which are also a priority in the EU's reports, and of course, fulfilling the promises made to the citizens.
I've been informed that the state institutions in the past days are working intensively on the preparation of various acts, changes or new laws, in terms of meeting the urgent priority reforms in several areas, starting from the sphere of security, but also the judicial, anti-corruption and media fields and others.
The idea is soon, in the next few weeks, to complete those draft laws or decisions and then to share them with the representatives of the European Commission and with the opposition parties with which they want to have a dialogue with, exchange arguments and their complete involvement, but also to consult about some of them with other international expert bodies.
But a part from this, they are also working on activities that will boost the enforcement of the already passed decisions and laws, which have been assessed as good, but their implementations was not assessed as sufficient.
VMRO-DPMNE's priority remains the goal to make the country a NATO and an EU member, to overcome all the obstacles. Much work will be done on that.
Our party has a strong reputation with the majority of the country's citizens and a team that keeps its word and fulfills its promises. And we've deserved that reputation. With hard work, results, fulfilling the promises, solving the problems for which we haven't made a promises in the first place, by respecting the people, with the fight against crime and corruption as no one before us, and strengthening the state and democracy in every regard. And that, as to the voters, has made us largely different and more acceptable than SDSM. We have to preserve and boost that.
We also need to improve the perception outside, which was distorted not just by the 'bombs', but by the massive propaganda against us, which is exerted by our adversaries. Maybe we haven't paid enough attention to it, and that's one of our flaws.
Probably together, and with some of our real mistakes and omissions, most of which we weren't even aware of, the large-scale work of our opponents and adversaries, has resulted with having a much better perception here at home than abroad, at least at certain important addresses.
But with hard work and with everyone's dedication, we'll show them our real values, both at home to those that haven't recognized them yet, and abroad to those who have a wrong and negative perception about us. Besides to those that see us as a hindrance no matter what we do. Our mere existence borders them. There're always people like that, right.
Т: Are you content with the current foreign minister, in terms of the country's presentation abroad?
"I would say, more than content. Highly professional, and with all his capacities and strengths, Poposki has been working very hard in the past 5 years, on all fields. He is a young man who loves his country and his people, he is very dynamic, with quick and clear thought, with a high-value criteria and integrity, quality education and great experience.
Still, the Government and all political parties need to contribute more to the improvement of Macedonia's image abroad.
T: Are the speculations that you have offered the abolished individuals to save themselves by not being involved in politics true; and furthermore, that you have accepted a proposal to federalize the country and that you have even agreed with Greece's proposals for the name issue?
"None of this is true and it's the product of SDSM's propaganda. We have a rational approach to everything, led by our goals, ideology, the honest relations with the citizens and the promises we have made. The country is everything to us. The people is the country.
T: In the end, shortly, were there any negotiations involving the name, for instance during this past year?
"No. There have been no talks. It is good to hold those talks and find a solution, but there have been no talks in this period".