Zoran Zaev’s First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi (DUI) told the press that the coalition members, who are meeting this evening, called on Zaev to remain as Prime Minister. Zaev announced his resignation both as Prime Minister and as SDSM party leader after badly losing the local elections on Sunday to VMRO-DPMNE.

All partners in the Government were absolutely against Zaev’s resignation because they believe it’s hasty and that the citizens expect him to continue to pursue his policies. We can’t allow such adventures in fragile moments for the state, Grubi said, emphasizing that DUI and other coalition partners want Zaev to withdraw the resignation. SDSM members are already circulating a petition with the same demand, leaving the impression that Zaev is looking for ways to be persuaded out of resigning. DUI leader Ali Ahmeti also made the same public demand that his confidant Grubi is now putting forward.

Grubi insisted that Zaev must remain in place to continue to negotiate with Bulgaria, as that country blocks Macedonia from opening EU accession talks while demanding major concessions on Macedonian national identity issues – demands that any other Prime Minister is highly unlikely to accept. Grubi also cited the need to continue implementing Zaev’s Prespa Treaty and the continued “safeguarding of inter-ethnic relations” – a byword often used by DUI to indicate that tensions between Macedonians and Albanians will rise if that party is not in the Government.

SDSM, DUI and a host of other coalition partners have just 62 seats in the Parliament – out of 120, while VMRO-DPMNE and the opposition parties have the remaining 58, meaning that any defection from Zaev’s coalition can collapse his Government.