Zoran Zaev announced that he will either resign or try to reconstruct his Government following a planned meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Zaev wouldn’t disclose the time and the place of the meeting, which is expected to bring some clarity in the dramatic political turnaround, as it becomes clear that the European Union will not allow Macedonia to open accession talks in June, despite the name change. France, the Netherlands and Denmark are openly against the opening of accession talks, but also German conservative parties oppose the move, and German Greens claim that Merkel herself is not willing to reward Zaev, although she campaigned in favor of the name change. Zaev today dismissed claims that there is opposition from the Chancellor herself, but acknowledged that he will be forced to take his future steps depending on the outcome of the European Council.

Talks about reconstruction of the Government are largely completed. Our majority in Parliament is pretty stable, after all the votes it made. It is possible that I return the mandate, in case the accession talks decision is not made during the summer. We will have the basis of the situation after the talks with Chancellor Merkel. We are in constant communication with all countries, and Bulgaria and Greece are helping the most, Zaev told the press today.

The shocking news that despite all the humiliating concessions with top national issues Zaev made, Macedonia will not be allowed to make the initial first step on a long road to EU membership came at a time when Zaev was already politically weakened after the presidential elections. His SDSM party won the elections, but only after relying on the support not only from his coalition partners from the Albanian community, but on virtually all Albanian voters in the country, and after promising his supporters that he will purge his most corrupt and incompetent members of the Government.

The reconstruction we promised was delayed a little bit, and it would be pointless if I decide to return my mandate. If all is well, we can begin replacing some public sector managers during the next Government session, Zaev said.