The Greek government does not comment on the upcoming elections in Northern Macedonia, as this topic is still sensitive for both Balkan countries, writes the Serbian editorial board of Deutsche Welle.
After France and the Netherlands vetoed EU accession negotiations for Northern Macedonia and Albania, the political fate of the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is foggy. After all, it was he who promised the citizens a European future and for his sake, the Prespansky agreement with Athens, lasting for Skopje, was reached on the recognition of the name of Macedonia in Northern Macedonia. After “no” sounded from Brussels, new elections were scheduled for April.
There is no support for the Prespan Agreement further, writes the Far East based on a survey of citizens. Most simply waved their hands at the question of European prospects. Those who agreed to give an answer spoke mostly negatively.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the summit in Brussels continued to support the European integration of the Western Balkans, but no official statements have yet been received regarding the newly appointed elections from Athens.
An expert on the Balkans from Greece, Stavros Tsimas, wrote in a local publication Katemirini that such a position of the government is not surprising, while he expressed almost complete confidence that Zaev would lose the elections in Northern Macedonia.
“Despite several reformist decisions, his power for the majority of citizens is hardly different from the policies of the previous Prime Minister Nikola Gruevsky. Scandals and corruption are still present, only now under the cover of social democracy,” the journalist said.
In addition, he added that after the decision of Brussels, Northern Macedonia and Albania may completely turn away from the EU “in search of new defenders.”