Agriculture Minister Arijanit Hoxha, who is a member of the BESA party, announced that he will leave the Zaev Government and indicated that BESA is likely to leave the coalition altogether. Hoxha is the first BESA official to speak to the press as the party gathered to discuss its future political steps.

The party holds three seats in Parliament which are enough to bring down the Government, and tensions are growing as it feels cheated by the larger DUI coalition partner. DUI is trying to stage a revote in the rural municipality of Zelino and take control over it, after BESA narrowly won in by just 70 votes in the local elections on Sunday.

I can’t look at those people and sit with them at the same table, seeing how they are ready to stick a knife in their coalition partner’s back, Hoxha said, referring to the DUI and SDSM parties. “I think it’s about time for DUI to prepare to go in the opposition. Ahmeti has remain in power by playing other politicians against each other. He hasn’t learnt what it means to be in the opposition, but it is time for him to get ready to go there”, Hoxha said. He added that the party is continuing its consultations and will reach its official decision soon.

BESA beat DUI in the key second round battle for control of Tetovo, and the bruising fight strained relations in the coalition. With Zaev announcing his resignation, several of his coalition partners seem to be looking for the exit, as VMRO-DPMNE is courting them and asking their support to hold early elections.