Macedonian Albanian Party Mulls New Coalition With Gruevski

Ali Ahmeti, leader of Macedonia's main ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, on Wednesday said the DUI will start negotiations with VMRO DPMNE since it had received a mandate to form the next government.

However, Ahmeti said he had not decided if the negotiations would likely end with a renewed partnership, as DUI is still analyzing four options - a coalition with VMRO DPMNE, a coalition with the opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, joining a "technical" government, or staying in opposition.

"All options are possible and we are analyzing these options seriously at the highest level of the party," Ahmeti said on Wednesday evening.

As the largest party in parliament following the December 11 elections, VMRO DPMNE has obtained a mandate from the President to form a government.

On Tuesday, it said it would first invite the DUI to negotiate on a renewed coalition but did not clarify when the talks will begin.

VMRO DPMNE won 51 of the 120 seats in the parliament in the December elections, the SDSM won 49 and the DUI won 10.

As most other parties have ruled out negotiations with VRMO DPMNE, its only hope is to renew its alliance with the DUI.

Ahmeti said negotiations would not be easy and he will not enter a government if his Macedonian partner does not accept the joint declaration of Macedonia's ethnic Albanian parties adopted on January 7.

The seven-point declaration aims to ensure complete equality between the Macedonian majority and the Albanian minority - about a quarter of the population.

The Albanian parties want the Albanian language made official over the entire territory of the country, not only in areas where they live in significant numbers. They also want economic equality,...

Continue reading on: