The public’s disillusionment with certain officials and policies that must be corrected is the reason for the election result, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev while responding to a journalist’s question at today’s press conference on Pope Francis’ visit on May 7th.
He added that as prime minister he understood the message from citizens and that there will be changes, as soon as the legal conditions are there. According to him, the membership did not vote for the opposition, which means that the lack of voter turnout was neither due to the Prespa Agreement nor the Law on the Use of Languages.
“Directors, ministers have become estranged and have alienated themselves from the public, setting themselves higher. Some of them did not fulfill the tasks assigned to their functions. Non-contact with citizens and the slow implementation of administrative procedures are the reasons for citizen’s disappointment. Once the law allows, there will be changes and reshuffles. From the day the elections were announced until the end of the elections, no changes can be made,” Zaev said.
He believes that he is informed about who works and who does not, but has not yet discussed with coalition partners about the possible reshuffle in the government. It will follow the elections.
Asked about events at the Islamic Religious Community, Zaev did not want to comment on the problems that have occurred there because according to the Constitution, the state has no right to interfere, and leaves the IRC to solve their own issues from the inside and in accordance to their own laws.
“The government does not intend to interfere in any religious community or the IRC. Assistance from the police has been requested, the Ministry of Interior sent three officers. The financial police were not summoned, they received a letter, but its authenticity is yet be seen,” Zaev said. He did not answer the question whether the IRC will meet with Pope Francis on his state visit.
