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Angry protesters demolish Macedonian president's public office

Xinhua, April 14, 2016 Adjust font size:

Protesters stormed the public office of the Macedonian president in downtown Skopje Wednesday evening.

The protesters showed their anger because of the decision of President Gjorge Ivanov to pardon and abolish all criminal persecution against 56 government and opposition politicians under investigation of alleged corruption and other criminal acts.

The office is completely demolished a day after Ivanov pardoned the politicians, claiming that his purpose is to alleviate the political crisis in the country caused by mutual accusation of corruption, election fraud and other criminal acts between the ruling majority and the opposition.

This is not the working office of the Macedonian president, but it is an office opened so the citizens can contact the chief of state with their comments, remarks, suggestions and complaints.

The protesters are supported by the Macedonian opposition parties which do not accept the president's pardon and which claim that the sole purpose of Ivanov with this act is to protect the officials from the ruling VMRO-DPMNE from persecution.

On the other hand, another group of citizens, who are believed to be affiliated with VMRO-DPMNE, are protesting in front of the main opposition party SDSM because its leader is also on the list for pardoning.

Experts are divided in their evaluations of the president's move.

The professor of Criminal Law in Skopje Gordan Kalajdziev said that it is a "scandalous and illegal" act of the Macedonian leader.

"President Ivanov voluntarily expanded his authorities, putting himself over all institutions," Kalajdziev told Xinhua.

"The president's decision undermines the whole legal system and the rule of law. It actually undermines the constitutional system of the country," lawyer Aleksandar Tortevski added on Wednesday.

But, for the university professor Tatjana Karakamisheva the decision of President Ivanov is "crystal clear".

"The president acted within his legal and constitutional authorities. Moreover, he had the obligation to act in order to defuse the serious political crisis that is threatening the future of the country," Karakamisheva told Xinhua. Endit