Crvenkovski waits to take the reins again
Shortly after his victory in the September 14 election in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Branko Crvenkovski, who leads the Social Democratic Union (SDSM), spoke to Kathimerini about his country’s relations with Greece and gave assurances to Greek investors, present and potential, that they would meet with a favorable climate. In his first media interview since the elections, Crvenkovski, who won the election under the «Together for Macedonia» coalition, is preparing to form a government. The question is whether he will govern along with Ali Ahmeti, who once headed the former National Liberation Army (NLA) and is now leader of the newly formed Democratic Union for Integration. Also at issue is whether he will prosecute incumbent Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and the former leader of ethnic Albanians, Arben Xhaferi, whom he has accused of smuggling. Also in the balance is an agreement to sell the state refinery, OKTA, to Hellenic Petroleum, which he had criticized as being harmful to FYROM’s interests. The political heir of former President Kiro Gligorov, the 42-year-old Crvenkovski appears likely to become prime minister for the second time.
