MEPs Urge Macedonian Opposition to Rethink Boycott

Jorgo Chatzimarkakis and Zoran Thaler have called for dialogue in Macedonia, after almost the entire opposition started a boycott of parliament, accusing the ruling VMRO DPMNE party of authoritarian rule and choking media freedom.

"The boycott of the work of the National Parliament by the opposition is a serious signal that Skopje is in a political crisis," the MEPs say in a joint press release on Wednesday.

They call on the opposition, led by the Social Democrats, to reconsider their decision.

"The country is at a serious crossroad and we hope that it will choose the right direction; the direction of democracy, EU membership, peace, stability and wellbeing of everyone in the country, the two MEPs add.

German MEP Chatzimarkakis heads the Joint Committee of the European and Macedonian Parliaments in Brussels. Slovenia's Thaler is the European Parliament Rapporteur on Macedonia.

"We call all parties involved to enter into an immediate dialogue in order to find compromise solutions," the MEPs continue.

Thaler and Chatzimarkakis also voice concern about media freedom in the country. The immediate trigger for the opposition boycott was the freezing of the bank account of Macedonia’s most popular TV station, A1, whose owner is in detention on suspicion of financial crime.

The TV station, which is known for its critical stance towards the centre-right government, has accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of trying to shut them down.

“We still miss a clear message from the government and Prime Minister in support of free, independent and also critical media. Political interference in the media is a serious source of concern," the MEPs note.

The Social Democrats and the six other parties said they intend to stay outside the parliament and that the only way to ease the situation is early elections.

Parliament this week meanwhile resumed its work without them. The Speaker, Trajko Veljanovski, has asked the opposition to come back but insists that the country is not in any crisis.