German Ambassador to Macedonia also Calls for Gov't Resignations

Germany's Ambassador to Skopje has urged the Macedonian cabinet to make sure that accusations hurled by the opposition are followed by resignations.

"In line with all European standards, [after] such accusations there should be political consequences, which means resignations," Christine Althauser, the top German envoy to the Southeastern European nation, said during an event dedicated to EU integration and organized by the German non-profit Konrad Adenauer.

In her words, quoted by Macedonian daily Utrinski Vesnik, EU governments have been "naïve" to think that state interests could be put before those of parties.

"Our Western belief that in the political dialogue interests of the state should overcome party politics, it seems, is naïve with regard to political culture here," Althauser stated.

She added she found "irritating" what she described as lack of "adequate" response on behalf of the government.

The country has been rocked in the past few months by a political scandal, with socialist opposition leader Zoran Zaev unveiling series of what he calls "evidence" of interference in the media and judiciary on behalf of the executive, and also of massive wiretapping committed by PM Nikola Gruevski's government.

Gruevski has systematically rejected calls by Zaev to step down and give way to an interim government. In January, Zaev was charged with an attempted coup d'etat which Gruevski claims was inspired by a foreign intelligence service.

Her remarks come after several Western states and officials from NATO and the EU have repeatedly voiced their concern over the developments.

Last week it was the US Ambassador to Skopje, Jess Baily, who called on authorities to resign, echoing a statement by...