VMRO-DPMNE Vice President Aleksandar Nikoloski called into a radio program with member of Parliament Kastriot Rexhepi, whose disappearance on the day of the vote of no confidence against the Zaev Government sabotaged the opposition’s attempt.

Your BESA party was the main instigator of the vote. Rexhepi’s signature is clearly visible on the list of 61 members of Parliament. We collected the signatures and gave Zaev a deadline to keep his word and to resign. But Zaev fled like a coward, Nikoloski said.

He added that Rexhepi faced an offer of “lead or silver” from the ruling coalition to force him to undermine the vote. Without his vote, the opposition was down to only 60 votes and could not topple the Zaev Government.

Still, Zaev only bought some time for himself and could not delay his resignation indefinitely, Nikoloski added.

Zaev formally resigned as SDSM party leader yesterday and is expected to be replaced with another leader in two weeks.