A turbulent week is expected to arrive on the Macedonian political scene. After the State Election Commission announced it was ready for the June 5 elections, the preparations for the early ballots are underway, Telegraf.mk reads.
The first thing that needs to be done is to make the electoral roll available for public insight, so that each citizen can verify whether his or hers name features the list. The majority of the commission members has no dilemmas that the elections will take place in the best of orders.
However, the SDSM-led opposition does not share that position, and it still voices strong concerns regarding the voters registry revision and the so-called 'phantom voters'.
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State Election Commission in session.
The conduct of the European Union during these moments is baffling, as it does not condemn the SDSM calls for boycott, although Brussels said the State Election Commission is the authority that should say whether there are fit conditions for holding early parliamentary elections.
The political situation in Macedonia has been rendered additionally complicated after President Gjorge Ivanov announced a general abolition act, with which he halted all legal proceedings led against politicians and their associates belonging to both the ruling parties and the opposition.
President Gjorge Ivanov.
The chief of state later gave further explanation of his move - the person who wishes to be abolished should submit a written demand to his cabinet. So far, several politicians have or will file such a request to the president - those are: Nikola Gruevski, Saso Mijalkov, Zoran Zaev, Trajko Veljanoski, Branko Crvenkovski, Vladimir Taleski.
However, what presents greater causes for concern is the radicalization of the protests organized by associations some believe are close to SDSM and Soros.
Protests in front of the presidential people's office in downtown Skopje.
Regular incidents occur during their protests, with injured police officers, demolished state institutions, while certain experts are openly discussing the prospects of Macedonia seeing a 'Ukrainian scenario', which is again not condemned by the EU.
The Civil Movement for Macedonia's Defense (GDOM) announced it will hold public gatherings over the week. Their representatives say the association is getting more and more support from the citizens. According to GDOM, Macedonia cannot fall into the arms of those who mean the country harm and that only the June 5 elections are the solution to the imposed political crisis.