ZNAM to receive a deputy minister in the Government soon

ZNAM will gain an additional seat in the Government of North Macedonia in the form of a deputy minister, the movement's leader, Maksim Dimitrievski, announced at a public report on the work of ZNAM's elected and appointed officials.

"We are discussing several portfolios; I would not like to speculate at the moment, of course the prime minister is the most appropriate person to answer that question and I believe that already by the end of the month you will have a statement from him on that topic," Dimitrievski said.

Party criticism and accusations

SDSM responded with sharp criticism, accusing ZNAM of betraying the party and its voters and calling the movement a satellite of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and VMRO-DPMNE. In a blistering statement SDSM said: "ZNAM was born as a project of Mickoski. To overthrow SDSM from within. People who first betrayed their party, and then betrayed the voters who believed in the story of reform in SDSM. They entered the government. They became part of the organized criminal group VMRO. They became part of the gang. Satellites. A vote in the Assembly. A seat in an institution. A tender in a municipality. A tender in the Post. The people know the results. Makso first sold the voters, then Macedonia."

Dimitrievski defended his movement's record in government over the past two years, saying it has no scandals and no corruption among its officials. He outlined ZNAM's priorities as improving citizens' socio-economic conditions, ensuring justice for all and equality before the law in Macedonia.

After the cabinet reconstruction, deputy ministers were not appointed for social policy, demography and youth, nor for culture and tourism, leaving room for negotiations over which portfolio ZNAM will receive.

ZNAM currently holds two ministerial posts in the Government of North Macedonia: the Ministry of Administration and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management.

Photo: press material from the event