The term 20 percent has to go now


Robert Nesimi The public in Macedonia is these days understandably obsessed with news of Gruevski’s escape to Hungary. At the same time it seems forgotten that the process of constitutional amendments is still going on in Parliament. Even during this process not much space was given to the legitimate and quite rational demands of the […]

Replay 2002-2006


Robert Nesimi Political analyst Last week Macedonia cleared another important hurdle on its path to EU and NATO integration. 80 MPs voted to start the process of constitutional changes which are required to fully implement the name agreement with Greece, and we can assume that these votes will also be available for the constitutional changes […]

Five conclusions from the referendum vote


Robert Nesimi Political analyst Besides its implications for the name agreement and EU and NATO integration, the referendum vote can be read from a purely political angle. It offers a snapshot of the political weight of each political factor in the country, one year after the local elections. Below are a few conclusions. 1 – […]

For the referendum, against the government


Robert Nesimi Political analyst A week before the referendum it is now obvious, and at the same time disheartening, that the current government is trying to appropriate the whole issue, portraying its eventual success as its own and blaming its eventual failure on others. This is all the more unfortunate since in reality the parties […]

Where if not in NATO and EU


Robert Nesimi Political analyst On the 30th of September voters will go to the polls to decide whether to approve the agreement with Greece or not. Normally during the campaign both sides should present their arguments about the consequences of voting “pro” or “against”, and offer a vision of where the country would be headed […]

John McCain, a model to be followed


Robert Nesimi Political analyst   Senator John McCain passed away last week at age 81. He led a life and career characterized by honesty, courage, willingness to speak the truth and buck authority which earned him the nickname “the Maverick”, as well as a willingness to reach across the aisle and compromise with his political […]

Different scenarios for the referendum and agreement with Greece


Robert Nesimi Political analyst The name agreement with Greece, that promises to be Macedonia’s gateway for Euro-Atlantic integrations, still has a few hurdles to clear in the next few months. First it has to face a referendum scheduled for the 30th of September, and afterwards it must be ratified in Parliament together with the constitutional […]

Who speaks for the Albanian opposition


As expected the first leader meeting last week fell apart, since it had too many parties and even more leader. The following days meeting proceeded in the old format: two Macedonian and two Albanian parties, from the government and opposition. As representatives of the Albanian opposition Zaev decided to invite Kasami, even though in government […]

Life with clean air or life with polluters


More often than not the common good in Macedonia has been victim to special interests of small groups of people, who have trampled public interest with impunity, in order to enrich and empower themselves. No more was this true than during the past decade and previous government, which got its way whatever it set its […]

Kush e zgjodhi Ivanovin?


Shkruan: Robert Nesimi Kohët e fundit në skenën politike vështirë se gjendet figurë më tragji-komike se kryetari Ivanov. Si një Don Kishot i vërtetë ai ka nisur ndonjë mision të tijin të shenjtë, ku lufton me armiq imagjinarë për të mbrojtur vendin ashtu siç e paramendon ai dhe pa kuptuar se kanë ardhur kohëra të […]

Who elected Ivanov?


Lately it seems that there is no bigger tragi-comic political figure than President Ivanov. Like a true Don Quixote, he is on a holy quest where he fights fictitious enemies, defending the country as he imagines it, and not understanding that these are different times where there is no place for his antiques. And on […]

Shëndetësi për të gjithë – me forcë!


Shkruan: Robert Nesimi Duke ndjekur paraqitjet e fundit të Ministrisë së Shëndetësisë për ikjen e punëtorëve shëndetësorë nga shteti, mu kujtua një paraqitje e ngjashme e një megafoni të regjimit për një rast tjetër. Ishte koha kur BE hoqi vizat dhe qytetarët e Maqedonisë për herë të parë mundën të lëvizin lirshëm nëpër Europë. Ishte […]

Health for all – by force!


Watching the latest appearances of Ministry of Health officials, I could not help but remember and draw a parallel with similar statements by regime megaphones from another time. It was the time when the EU finally removed travel visas for Macedonian citizens and they could for the first time travel freely throughout Europe. Good news […]

Anketuesit e mirë dhe të dobët në Maqedoni


Shkruan: Robert Nesimi Çështja e emrit, perceptimi për punën e institucioneve shtetëore, besimi tek ta, rejtingu i partive politike dhe aktorëve tjerë shtetërorë e publikë, korrupsioni, rëndësia e marrëdhënieve ndëretnike, integrimet euroatlantike e të tjera. Disponimi i qytetarëve për këto dhe çështje tjera janë treguesit më të mirë të vullnetit politik të shoqërisë dhe do […]

The good and weak pollsters in Macedonia


The name issue, perception of state institutions, their trustworthiness, ratings of political parties and other political and social actors, corruption, importance of inter-ethnic relations, euroatlantic integrations and so on. The public mood about these and other issues are the best indicators of the public will, that should be the guideline of action for any government […]

Sistemi zgjedhor patjetër të ndryshohet


Shkruan: Robert Nesimi Gjashtëmbëdhjetë vitet e fundit Maqedonia ka zgjedhur deputetë duke aplikuar sistem zgjedhor proporcional, me lista të mbyllura të ndara në gjashtë njësi zgjedhore. Në këtë periudhë janë mbajtur gjashtë zgjedhje parlamentare, me çka është akumuluar përvojë e mjaftueshme për të thënë se ky sistem ka shfaqur mangësi të mëdha dhe ka ardhur […]

The electoral model must be changed


Robert Nesimi For the past sixteen years Macedonia has elected MPs using a proportional electoral model with closed lists, in six separate electoral districts. There have been six cycles of parliamentary elections during this period, and there is now more than enough evidence to say that this model has a number of shortcomings and therefore […]

Debat i dështuar për tatimin progresiv


Debat i dështuar për tatimin progresiv Debat pa përgatitje. Pas një serie reformash të filluara e lëna përgjysmë, së fundmi i erdhi rradha për trajtim njërit prej premtimeve kryesore parazgjedhore të SDSM, tatimit progresiv. Si[ premtoi gjatë fushatës qeveria e SDSM hapi debat publik për këtë tatim, i cili duhet të zëvendësojë tatimin e deritashëm […]

Kush e rrëzoi regjimin?


Robert Nesimi Një vit e gjysmë pas zgjedhjeve parlamentare 2016 po bëhet veçmë irrituese kur aktorë të rëndësishëm politikë vazhdojnë të shtirren se nuk e kanë kuptuar se çfarë në të vërtetë ndodhi në ato zgjedhje. VMRO për shembull vazhdon të pretendojë se ka fituar shumicën dhe se ajo pa të drejtë sot gjendet në […]

Who brought down the regime?


Robert Nesimi 1. A year and a half after parliamentary elections 2016 it is becoming irritating to hear important political actors pretending that they do not really understand what happened in those elections. VMRO, for example, continues to pretend that it won a majority and is unjustly in opposition. DUI also continues to pretend that […]