The State Committee for Preventing Corruption (SCPC) issued a press release with a reaction that Zoran Zaev cannot be at the same time a Prime Minister and a Minister of Finance. The Committee announced that if its statement isn’t taken into consideration it will be forced ” to take measures in accordance with its authorities”.
The reaction arrives today when the Parliament has to discuss the proposal for a government reshuffle with new ministerial positions where the Ministry of Finance will be taken over by the Prime Minister.
The Anti Corruption Committee has called upon two articles from the Law on Corruption Prevention and Conflict of Interests.
According to Article 72, Paragraph 1, the official when performing his duties is obliged to beware of a potential conflict of interests and to take measures to avoid those, warns SCPC.
As the main argument against the linking of both positions as a Prime minister and Minister, the COmmittee cited Article 44, Paragraphs 1 and 2 of the same law.
“The chosen or appointed person is obliged during his mandate to obey the rules of when one cannot perform his duty along with other duties or actions that are determined by the Constitution and the laws” and “The position of a President of the Republic, President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, minister, MP, member of a council, judge, mayor, public prosecutor, public procurator, ombudsman and other functions that are selected or appointed by the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia or the organs of the local self-governance are
irreconcilable one to another.
The Committee warns that if Zaev is elected as a Minister of Finance, it will be forced to take measures in accordance to its authorities determined by the Law for Prevention of Corruption and Conflict of Interests.
