Dutch Ambassador to Macedonia Dirk Jan Kop, who is by far the most outspoken critic of the disastrous collapse of the rule of law in the country, met with DUI party leader Ali Ahmeti today. In a rare move by a Western ambassador to criticize DUI, the ambassador blamed Ahmeti of influencing the Supreme Court.

Ambassador Dirk Jan Kop met with the DUI party leader Ali Ahmeti to relay a message that after two years of constant backsliding in the rule of law, the dedication of Macedonia to EU membership is at risk across a broad political spectrum. Also, the inappropriate political influence over the position of the President of the Supreme Court, which is a matter for the judiciary, is unacceptable and will cause a strong reaction in the Netherlands, the Dutch Embassy said in a statement.

Ahmeti, whose power in the Government has grown immensely, has been accused of numerous corruption scandals recently, including the purchase of a large share of the Soravia business tower in downtown Skopje by his nephew Drin Ahmeti. Corruption scandals were linked to his deputy Artan Grubi, who built his political career as a Dutch Embassy employee. The DUI party is most recently involved in an open fight to put under its thumb the M-NAV air traffic control service, and to hire party loyalists there, as is typical of DUI in all other public institutions it runs. The resistance offered by M-NAV employees led to an actual physical attack by DUI officials and thugs against several rebellious air traffic controllers – while they were on duty.

DUI is also accused of pressuring Supreme Court chief justice Besa Ademi, allegedly in an attempt to get her to accept a verdict that would help a long list of former opposition officials who are facing politically motivated persecution. DUI, and SDSM, apparently hope that this move would create a strong faction in the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party and divide it ahead of the elections, but the cynical nature of this attempt is causing criticism in the SDSM camp and among the diplomats in Skopje. Ahmeti’s party responded with a statement insisting that it wanted to conduct a vetting process in the judiciary, but that it was prevented by EU officials. There were concerns that DUI and SDSM will try to use the vetting to mass-dismiss judges and prosecutors, and appoint their loyalists instead.

Following the recent nationalist victory in the Dutch elections, this country is positioning itself as the main obstacle to the hopes for quick EU membership for the Balkan countries.