Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s visit to Hungary has raised questions about potential tensions within his government after several ministers from coalition partners VREDI and ZNAM did not join the official delegation. While the official explanations range from protocol-related reasons to pre-scheduled obligations and health issues, analysts see signs of a possible internal crisis.
OFFICIAL EXPLANATIONS AND PROTOCOL
The government claims that the ministers’ absence was due to protocol-related circumstances and that there is no political background to it.
“This is a protocol-related matter, agreed upon with Hungary. Every ministry that has a corresponding partner for a meeting is present. Additionally, from the photos, you can see the presence of Ljupcho Dimovski, who is part of the government coalition,” said government spokesperson Marija Miteva.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Izet Mexhiti, who did not travel to Budapest, cited health reasons.
“I couldn’t travel. I have the flu,” he stated.
Some of the ministers who remained in Skopje claimed they had pre-arranged commitments.
“Why am I not in Hungary? I am always where I believe the priority is for the citizens and the ministry. Yesterday, we attended an event with the President of the country, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, in Veles, marking the Day of Girls and Women with Disabilities and Cerebral Palsy. In Hungary, only the ministers who confirmed attendance are present, and it is clear who they are. I also received an invitation. This is not a boycott,” said Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demographics, and Youth.
Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani expressed a similar position, but his deputy, Viktorija Trajkov, attended the meetings with Mickoski instead. Minister of Health Arben Taravari, who also remained in the country, participated in an event on obesity awareness, while the Minister of Economy was unavailable for comment on why he was not part of the Prime Minister’s delegation.
On the other hand, ZNAM ministers had their own reasons for their absence. Goran Minchev stated that he had no counterpart for a meeting in Hungary, while Filip Filkov sent his deputy, arguing that this was the appropriate level of representation.
BOYCOTT OR SIGNS OF DIVISION?
Beyond the ministers from VREDI and ZNAM, the absence of Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoiljkovic was also notable. Education Minister Vesna Janevska had already stated the day before that she had obligations at home.
Analysts argue that this is not a coincidence. They recall that ministers from VREDI and ZNAM were present at the first intergovernmental meeting with Viktor Orban’s cabinet in September last year, just three months after Mickoski’s government was formed. However, their current “busy schedules” coincide with growing tensions between Brussels and Budapest, particularly regarding policies toward Ukraine.
North Macedonia and Hungary were the only two European countries that abstained from voting on the European resolution at the United Nations, further highlighting their close cooperation. According to some sources, this diplomatic stance may not be acceptable to all members of the government coalition.
FRACTURES IN THE GOVERNMENT?
This is not the first time the government has appeared incomplete on the international stage. During recent official visits, VREDI ministers were absent from the reception for former Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, while Stoiljkovic was missing from the meeting with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Although official explanations dismiss speculation about internal discord, these instances of selective participation in key diplomatic meetings suggest that Mickoski’s coalition may not be as stable as it seems.
