Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SKOPJE456
2007-06-08 12:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: PM GRUEVSKI SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE
how-toVZCZCXRO9771 OO RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHSQ #0456/01 1591256 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 081256Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6155 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/CDR TF FALCON RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: PM GRUEVSKI SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE
VOTE, COALITION HOLDS
REF: SKOPJE 418
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
SUMMARY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000456
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: PM GRUEVSKI SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE
VOTE, COALITION HOLDS
REF: SKOPJE 418
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
SUMMARY
1. (C) The government survived a no-confidence vote June 7
tabled by the opposition SDSM party to protest PM Gruevski's
alleged feuding with coalition partners and "failure to
advance judicial reforms." While the high-stakes
no-confidence gamble was playing out, Gruevski also faced the
threat of a walkout by his junior coalition partner,
eAlbanian DPA VP Thaci, over the latter's insistence that the
GOM delay implementation of a May 29 deal with rival
eAlbanian party DUI. Strong international pressure on Thaci
resulted in the DPA leader's backing down on his threat, and
in a government announcement that the coalition would remain
intact to pursue NATO reforms. If Gruevski hopes to make
real progress on the country's NATO candidacy, he will have
to adjust his leadership style to enhance communication and
coordination, both with his coalition partners as well as
with key opposition leaders. End summary.
GOVERNMENT SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
2. (C) PM Gruevski's inter-ethnic (VMRO-DPMNE/DPA/NSDP)
governing coalition survived a vote of no-confidence tabled
by opposition SDSM on June 7. Of 117 MPs present, 65 voted
against the motion, and 43 voted for it. There were no
abstentions, but nine MPs reportedly did not vote. Had the
motion carried, the government would have been obliged under
the Constitution to submit its resignation. The opposition
cannot propose another vote of no-confidence for 90 days.
COMMENT: SDSM, trailing VMRO-DPMNE in recent polls by a wide
margin, is likely to see its poll numbers dip even lower as a
result of the failed motion, which many Macedonian citizens
viewed as ill-timed -- coming on the eve of PM Gruevski's
visit to Tirana to meet with President Bush on June 10. END
COMMENT.
OPPOSITION: HIGH STAKES GAMBLE, LOW CHANCE OF SUCCESS
3. (C) SDSM President Sekerinska called the no-confidence
vote after accusing Gruevski of engaging in unproductive
feuds with his coalition partners and of hampering judicial
reforms. A senior SDSM adviser told us June 6 that the
original plan had been to target either the Minister of
Justice or the Minister of Defense for the no-confidence
vote.
4. (C) According to the SDSM adviser, the party altered
course after it assessed that it had support from an
increasing number of MPs, including some government
parliamentarians, for the more general no-confidence
approach. The adviser told us that SDSM was ready to offer
the Prime Minister portfolio to another party leader
(reportedly Gruevski's coalition partner, NSDP President
Petkovski) in exchange for support for the no-confidence
motion. He added, however, that the party believed it had
only a "50-50" chance of succeeding with the motion.
COALITION PARTNER THREATENS TO LEAVE COALITION...AGAIN
5. (C) In the meantime, over the weekend of June 2-3, DPA VP
Thaci threatened to leave the coalition (for the second time
in as many weeks),accusing Gruevski of having ceded DPA's
eAlbanian legislative agenda to rival eAlbanian party DUI in
an agreement concluded May 29 (reftel). In a meeting with
the DCM June 2, Thaci said he would walk out of the coalition
unless Gruevski agreed to a joint public statement announcing
that the government would not implement some of the terms of
the May agreement until after Macedonia received a NATO
invitation. The DCM stressed to Thaci the importance of
fulfilling the terms of the agreement. He noted that failure
to do so also would undermine Macedonia's NATO candidacy.
SKOPJE 00000456 002 OF 002
Thaci said he would consider those points and would respond
later that week.
6. (C) In a June 4 meeting with PM Gruevski, the Ambassador
reiterated the importance of honoring the terms of the
agreement with DUI. Postponing implementation would amount
to a breach of the May 29 agreement; that might serve DPA's
partisan interests, but it would be harmful to the interests
of the country. Gruevski complained that Thaci did not seem
to be bluffing, but the Prime Minister seemed at a loss for a
way out of the dilemma. Deputy PM Stavreski added that Thaci
probably was willing to "commit political suicide" just to
ensure DUI did not receive credit for implementing the terms
of the May 29 agreement.
DPA RELENTS, COALITION HOLDS
7. (C) The Ambassador told Gruevski that we would again
emphasize to DPA the importance of implementing the agreement
with DUI in a timely fashion, a message the DCM delivered by
telephone to Thaci on June 4 and in person June 5. In close
coordination with us, the NATO and EUSR missions also
communicated that message to Thaci. Faced with increasing
international pressure, Thaci backed down. On June 6, the
DPA VP and PM Gruevski met and announced that the coalition
would continue and would focus on NATO-related reforms.
8. (C) Thaci then informed us June 7 that DPA would not
obstruct the implementation of the agreement with DUI. He
added that the party would in fact take part in working
groups tasked with developing draft programs or legislation
to address two of the agreement's points, provided SDSM also
participated. The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff later
confirmed that the GOM would move ahead with implementation
of the agreement with DUI.
COMMENT
9. (C) Although both the no-confidence motion and Thaci's
walkout threat failed, both were stinging rebukes and
reminders to Gruevski that he cannot expect easy sailing if
he fails to communicate more effectively within the
coalition, as well as with the opposition. Although his
government is secure for the moment, and Gruevski continues
to enjoy high polls numbers among the Macedonian public, his
65 vote edge in the 120-seat parliament is less impressive
than his advantage a month or two ago, when he could count on
73 votes for his government programs. Gruevski will have
adjust his leadership style if he expects to move ahead
smartly to implement the reforms and other programs required
to make Macedonia a competitive candidate for NATO membership.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/09/2017
TAGS: PGOV MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: PM GRUEVSKI SURVIVES NO CONFIDENCE
VOTE, COALITION HOLDS
REF: SKOPJE 418
Classified By: P/E CHIEF SHUBLER, REASONS 1.4(B) & (D).
SUMMARY
1. (C) The government survived a no-confidence vote June 7
tabled by the opposition SDSM party to protest PM Gruevski's
alleged feuding with coalition partners and "failure to
advance judicial reforms." While the high-stakes
no-confidence gamble was playing out, Gruevski also faced the
threat of a walkout by his junior coalition partner,
eAlbanian DPA VP Thaci, over the latter's insistence that the
GOM delay implementation of a May 29 deal with rival
eAlbanian party DUI. Strong international pressure on Thaci
resulted in the DPA leader's backing down on his threat, and
in a government announcement that the coalition would remain
intact to pursue NATO reforms. If Gruevski hopes to make
real progress on the country's NATO candidacy, he will have
to adjust his leadership style to enhance communication and
coordination, both with his coalition partners as well as
with key opposition leaders. End summary.
GOVERNMENT SURVIVES NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE
2. (C) PM Gruevski's inter-ethnic (VMRO-DPMNE/DPA/NSDP)
governing coalition survived a vote of no-confidence tabled
by opposition SDSM on June 7. Of 117 MPs present, 65 voted
against the motion, and 43 voted for it. There were no
abstentions, but nine MPs reportedly did not vote. Had the
motion carried, the government would have been obliged under
the Constitution to submit its resignation. The opposition
cannot propose another vote of no-confidence for 90 days.
COMMENT: SDSM, trailing VMRO-DPMNE in recent polls by a wide
margin, is likely to see its poll numbers dip even lower as a
result of the failed motion, which many Macedonian citizens
viewed as ill-timed -- coming on the eve of PM Gruevski's
visit to Tirana to meet with President Bush on June 10. END
COMMENT.
OPPOSITION: HIGH STAKES GAMBLE, LOW CHANCE OF SUCCESS
3. (C) SDSM President Sekerinska called the no-confidence
vote after accusing Gruevski of engaging in unproductive
feuds with his coalition partners and of hampering judicial
reforms. A senior SDSM adviser told us June 6 that the
original plan had been to target either the Minister of
Justice or the Minister of Defense for the no-confidence
vote.
4. (C) According to the SDSM adviser, the party altered
course after it assessed that it had support from an
increasing number of MPs, including some government
parliamentarians, for the more general no-confidence
approach. The adviser told us that SDSM was ready to offer
the Prime Minister portfolio to another party leader
(reportedly Gruevski's coalition partner, NSDP President
Petkovski) in exchange for support for the no-confidence
motion. He added, however, that the party believed it had
only a "50-50" chance of succeeding with the motion.
COALITION PARTNER THREATENS TO LEAVE COALITION...AGAIN
5. (C) In the meantime, over the weekend of June 2-3, DPA VP
Thaci threatened to leave the coalition (for the second time
in as many weeks),accusing Gruevski of having ceded DPA's
eAlbanian legislative agenda to rival eAlbanian party DUI in
an agreement concluded May 29 (reftel). In a meeting with
the DCM June 2, Thaci said he would walk out of the coalition
unless Gruevski agreed to a joint public statement announcing
that the government would not implement some of the terms of
the May agreement until after Macedonia received a NATO
invitation. The DCM stressed to Thaci the importance of
fulfilling the terms of the agreement. He noted that failure
to do so also would undermine Macedonia's NATO candidacy.
SKOPJE 00000456 002 OF 002
Thaci said he would consider those points and would respond
later that week.
6. (C) In a June 4 meeting with PM Gruevski, the Ambassador
reiterated the importance of honoring the terms of the
agreement with DUI. Postponing implementation would amount
to a breach of the May 29 agreement; that might serve DPA's
partisan interests, but it would be harmful to the interests
of the country. Gruevski complained that Thaci did not seem
to be bluffing, but the Prime Minister seemed at a loss for a
way out of the dilemma. Deputy PM Stavreski added that Thaci
probably was willing to "commit political suicide" just to
ensure DUI did not receive credit for implementing the terms
of the May 29 agreement.
DPA RELENTS, COALITION HOLDS
7. (C) The Ambassador told Gruevski that we would again
emphasize to DPA the importance of implementing the agreement
with DUI in a timely fashion, a message the DCM delivered by
telephone to Thaci on June 4 and in person June 5. In close
coordination with us, the NATO and EUSR missions also
communicated that message to Thaci. Faced with increasing
international pressure, Thaci backed down. On June 6, the
DPA VP and PM Gruevski met and announced that the coalition
would continue and would focus on NATO-related reforms.
8. (C) Thaci then informed us June 7 that DPA would not
obstruct the implementation of the agreement with DUI. He
added that the party would in fact take part in working
groups tasked with developing draft programs or legislation
to address two of the agreement's points, provided SDSM also
participated. The Prime Minister's Chief of Staff later
confirmed that the GOM would move ahead with implementation
of the agreement with DUI.
COMMENT
9. (C) Although both the no-confidence motion and Thaci's
walkout threat failed, both were stinging rebukes and
reminders to Gruevski that he cannot expect easy sailing if
he fails to communicate more effectively within the
coalition, as well as with the opposition. Although his
government is secure for the moment, and Gruevski continues
to enjoy high polls numbers among the Macedonian public, his
65 vote edge in the 120-seat parliament is less impressive
than his advantage a month or two ago, when he could count on
73 votes for his government programs. Gruevski will have
adjust his leadership style if he expects to move ahead
smartly to implement the reforms and other programs required
to make Macedonia a competitive candidate for NATO membership.
MILOVANOVIC