Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SKOPJE23
2008-01-15 14:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:
MACEDONIA: MINISTER OF ECONOMY RESIGNS, IMPACT
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UNCLAS SKOPJE 000023
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE PFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MINISTER OF ECONOMY RESIGNS, IMPACT
MINIMAL
REF: A. 2007 SKOPJE 797
B. 2007 SKOPJE 886
SUMMARY
UNCLAS SKOPJE 000023
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE PFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MINISTER OF ECONOMY RESIGNS, IMPACT
MINIMAL
REF: A. 2007 SKOPJE 797
B. 2007 SKOPJE 886
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) Economy Minister Rafajlovska tendered her
resignation on January 14, citing personal reasons for her
decision to leave government service after a little more than
a year in office. The Minister of Economy is one of two
Ministerial positions (along with the Minister of Defense)
held by junior governing partner NSDP. Though she reported
resigning for personal reasons, Rafajlovska's recent clashes
with GoM leadership and the marginalization of the MoE on key
economic issues likely prompted her departure. Her
replacement will be named from within the NSDP, but will be
unable to wrest control of key economic issues from Deputy
Prime Minister Zoran Stavreski, a close confidante of PM
Gruevski. End Summary.
2. (SBU) After a little more than a year in office, Minister
of Economy Vera Rafajlovska resigned on January 14. A member
of junior coalition partner NSDP, Rafajlovska had headed a
tax and audit consulting firm prior to her government
service, and is likely to return to her private practice.
3. (SBU) Serious tensions between Rafajlovska and the GoM
leadership became evident during a power plant tender last
year (reftels),when she refused to finalize the plant's
privatization under a shadow of a questionable tender process
and an appeal by the U.S./Greek joint venture that had lost
the bid. Rafajlovska also reportedly was frustrated by the
continuing marginalization of the MoE on electricity sector
reform issues. In both cases, Deputy PM Stavreski, a key
advisor and close confidante of PM Gruevski, was clearly
calling the shots. Though she survived a no-confidence vote
in Parliament only a month ago, Rafajlovska told the press
that she was resigning for personal reasons and denied that
political pressures played a role in her decision.
4. (SBU) NSDP Party leader Tito Petkovski told us January 15
that Rafajlovska's resignation will not jeopardize the
party's position in the ruling coalition, and that NSDP would
retain the Minister of Economy portfolio. NSDP is a small
party with a limited "bench" on economic issues. Predrag
Trpevski, the current Deputy Minister of Finance, and NSDP's
only other player with any national profile on economic
issues, is likely to be named as Rafajlovska's replacement.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Rafajlovska's influence within the GoM
was limited, as she was often overshadowed by DPM Stavreski.
If Trpevski does get the nod to replace Rafajlovska, he is
unlikely to be able to carve out a much larger role for
himself or the Ministry of Economy, since DPM Stavreski will
continue to dominate on economic issues. END COMMENT.
MILOVANOVIC
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EUR/SCE PFEUFFER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON PGOV PINR MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MINISTER OF ECONOMY RESIGNS, IMPACT
MINIMAL
REF: A. 2007 SKOPJE 797
B. 2007 SKOPJE 886
SUMMARY
1. (SBU) Economy Minister Rafajlovska tendered her
resignation on January 14, citing personal reasons for her
decision to leave government service after a little more than
a year in office. The Minister of Economy is one of two
Ministerial positions (along with the Minister of Defense)
held by junior governing partner NSDP. Though she reported
resigning for personal reasons, Rafajlovska's recent clashes
with GoM leadership and the marginalization of the MoE on key
economic issues likely prompted her departure. Her
replacement will be named from within the NSDP, but will be
unable to wrest control of key economic issues from Deputy
Prime Minister Zoran Stavreski, a close confidante of PM
Gruevski. End Summary.
2. (SBU) After a little more than a year in office, Minister
of Economy Vera Rafajlovska resigned on January 14. A member
of junior coalition partner NSDP, Rafajlovska had headed a
tax and audit consulting firm prior to her government
service, and is likely to return to her private practice.
3. (SBU) Serious tensions between Rafajlovska and the GoM
leadership became evident during a power plant tender last
year (reftels),when she refused to finalize the plant's
privatization under a shadow of a questionable tender process
and an appeal by the U.S./Greek joint venture that had lost
the bid. Rafajlovska also reportedly was frustrated by the
continuing marginalization of the MoE on electricity sector
reform issues. In both cases, Deputy PM Stavreski, a key
advisor and close confidante of PM Gruevski, was clearly
calling the shots. Though she survived a no-confidence vote
in Parliament only a month ago, Rafajlovska told the press
that she was resigning for personal reasons and denied that
political pressures played a role in her decision.
4. (SBU) NSDP Party leader Tito Petkovski told us January 15
that Rafajlovska's resignation will not jeopardize the
party's position in the ruling coalition, and that NSDP would
retain the Minister of Economy portfolio. NSDP is a small
party with a limited "bench" on economic issues. Predrag
Trpevski, the current Deputy Minister of Finance, and NSDP's
only other player with any national profile on economic
issues, is likely to be named as Rafajlovska's replacement.
5. (SBU) COMMENT: Rafajlovska's influence within the GoM
was limited, as she was often overshadowed by DPM Stavreski.
If Trpevski does get the nod to replace Rafajlovska, he is
unlikely to be able to carve out a much larger role for
himself or the Ministry of Economy, since DPM Stavreski will
continue to dominate on economic issues. END COMMENT.
MILOVANOVIC