Vladimir Neloski, member of the VMRO-DPMNE Executive Committee, believes that the shocking testimony from former spy chief Zoran Verusevski about the 2015 wiretapping scandal is the final nail in the coffin of the Special Prosecutor’s Office. Verusevski told the court earlier this week that the wiretaps which were used to bring down the VMRO-DPMNE led Government and to prosecute its leaders and activists using the SPO were “heavily modified”.
The work of the Special Prosecutor’s Office was compromised from the very start, when it became clear that they have an uneven and selective approach to their execution of justice.The events of the last months confirmed this, the the SPO was solely in the function of pressuring VMRO-DPMNE, and later extorting money from businessmen and company owners. Verusevski’s statement is the final nail in the coffin of this institution which did not meet the expectations and leaves a dark stain on our judiciary, Neloski told Republika in an interview.
According to Neloski, it is clear that the political backing and the final say in the extortion racket was in the Government and involved people surrounding Zoran Zaev.
They were caught red handed and now resort to desperate threats to cover up the scandal. Two top party officials, who were named under false names, were removed from their offices by Zaev, which only adds to the suspicions. Unfortunately for the Government, more and more people are stepping up and are confirming the rumors that they were blackmailed for enormous sums of money, threatened that they would otherwise face criminal charges or get in the “boss’s good graces”, Neloski told Republika.
According to him, the biggest fault of the Zaev rule is in that it “Destroyed the hope and the spirit of the Macedonian people, replacing it with apathy. They failed to uphold their promise to bring the young people back to the country and we see that they are leaving in unprecedented numbers. Hundreds are leaving each day”.
Given that having a track record in the fight against corruption is a major pre-condition for opening EU accession talks, Neloski warns that the requested October date is in jeopardy.
I hope that the Macedonian people won’t be punished for Zoran Zaev’s irresponsible policies and his numerous scandals. VMRO-DPMNE lobbied our sister EPP parties and I really believe that the Republic of Macedonian deserves a date to open accession talks, we deserved it 10 years ago. At the moment, though, we can’t ignore the enormous corruption scandals coming from the Government. Hopefully that won’t damage our citizens, Neloski said.
The high level of corruption, but also Government incompetence, has affected the economy, Neloski warns, pointing to the inability to bring new investment or even implement planned public infrastructure projects.
One of the first tasks of the new Finance Minister was to increase the debt by 61.7 million EUR, and to cut infrastructure spending by 50 million. This economy can only prosper for the ruling family, and nobody else. No surprise that the grade given by German investors for the country’s performance was 0, the opposition official says.
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