Hristijan Mickoski
Hristijan Mickoski | |
---|---|
Христијан Мицкоски | |
![]() Official portrait, 2024 | |
13th Prime Minister of North Macedonia | |
Assumed office 23 June 2024 | |
President | Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova |
Preceded by | Talat Xhaferi |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 23 December 2017 – 23 June 2024 | |
Prime Minister | Zoran Zaev Oliver Spasovski Zoran Zaev Dimitar Kovačevski Talat Xhaferi |
Preceded by | Nikola Gruevski |
Succeeded by | Venko Filipče |
President of VMRO-DPMNE | |
Assumed office 23 December 2017 | |
Preceded by | Nikola Gruevski |
Personal details | |
Born | Skopje, SR Macedonia, Yugoslavia | 29 September 1977
Political party | VMRO-DPMNE |
Children | 2 |
Alma mater | Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje |
Occupation | Mechanical engineer • Politician |
Hristijan Mickoski (Macedonian: Христијан Мицкоски, pronounced [ˈxristijan ˈmit͡skɔski]; born 29 September 1977) is a Macedonian politician and the current Prime Minister of North Macedonia. He is also a university professor and president of VMRO-DPMNE. In 2016, he became the director of Power Plants of Macedonia, and in the period from 2015 to 2017, he was an energy advisor to prime ministers Nikola Gruevski and Emil Dimitriev. As the sole candidate, he was elected leader of VMRO-DPMNE at the party's 16th congress in Valandovo.
Early life and career
[edit]Mickoski was born on 29 September 1977 in Skopje, then in Socialist Republic of Macedonia, part of SFR Yugoslavia. From 2016 to 2017, he was the director of Power Plants of Macedonia, the state-owned electricity producing company.[1] He has a PhD degree. In 2011, he was a visiting professor at Vienna's Technical University.[2] He was an associate professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje,[3][4] but in 2019 he became a regular professor.[5] From 2015 to 2017, he was the energy advisor of prime ministers Nikola Gruevski and Emil Dimitriev.[2]
Political career
[edit]Party leader
[edit]After the resignation of Nikola Gruevski, Mickoski became the new leader of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party in 23 December 2017 in the party's 16th congress in Valandovo,[6] and thus leader of the opposition in the country.[7]
According to some party members, in his youth Hristijan Mickoski was a candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party for the presidency of the Union of students at St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and a fierce opponent to then ruling VMRO-DPMNE.[8] Other members of VMRO-DPMNE accused him of not being a party member up until 2010.[8] According to Ljubčo Georgievski, Mickoski displayed himself as a party activist firstly in 2016.[9] Mickoski previously was the party's secretary general from July 2017.[7]
The veracity of his pro-EU and pro-NATO orientation has been met with doubt by some political observers.[10][11] Mickoski has stated that he and his party are in favour of joining the European Union and NATO but not with "capitulation", i.e. rejecting the Prespa Agreement signed with Greece, which resolved the Macedonia naming dispute and secured North Macedonia's NATO accession.[12] He and the party he leads became the main participant of the July 2022 North Macedonia protests against the French proposal for the start of the negotiation process of North Macedonia and the EU.[13] In August 2022, Mickoski promised to leave politics forever, if Bulgarians were recognized in the country's constitution, a mandatory requirement included in the negotiating framework with the EU.[14] In September he proposed a referendum under which the friendship treaty between Bulgaria and North Macedonia would be annulled.[15][16] Mickoski has close ties with the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán and Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić,[17][18][19] who are providing suitable model to Western Balkans' politicians with autocratic leanings.[20][21][22]
Prime Minister (2024–present)
[edit]Election and Government
[edit]After the VMRO-DPMNE gained a plurality of seats in the Assembly of North Macedonia and entered into a coalition agreement with the VLEN Coalition and ZNAM following the 2024 North Macedonian parliamentary election, Mickoski was given the mandate from the president Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova to form the next government on 6 June.[23] In his address on 23 June 2024, before the vote for the new government in the Assembly, he promised that his government would work to reduce taxes, increase pensions, start a project with over 200 million euros for municipal projects, invest one billion euros for the economy, initiate new foreign investments for new jobs, make textbooks free for all, fight against corruption, and fight for growth of up to 5 percent of the economy. After the vote, he became the country's 13th Prime Minister.[24][25]
After he referred to his country as "Macedonia" shortly before his election and described the constitutional name North Macedonia as "shameful", Greece accused the country of reneging on the Prespa Agreement and warned that its accession into the European Union was at risk of being blocked.[26] Mickoski promised in his speech also that as long as he is prime minister, the Bulgarian minority will not be recognized and there will be no more constitutional changes, describing this EU requirement as Bulgarian dictate.[27] On this occasion, the Bulgarian side warned that North Macedonia's intention not to abide to its international commitments is unacceptable and this is incompatible with the country's European path.[28]
Mickoski has chosen close party allies and partners as ministers, reserving fewer posts for ethnic Albanians, and selecting one vice PM with well-known links to Moscow and Belgrade - Ivan Stoilković. It includes also all four VMRO-DPMNE vice presidents, most of whom held high positions under the autocratic regime of the former PM and party leader Nikola Gruevski. The government consists mainly of VMRO-DPMNE, VLEN, ZNAM and the Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia members.[29]
Geopolitical Orientation
[edit]In July 2024 Mickoski met with his Hungarian colleague Orban during the NATO summit in Washington. He informed that they have concluded an economic agreement to establish a special economic cooperation between the countries. The idea is for Hungary to provide a large financial credit to North Macedonia.[30] The agreement was condemned by the opposition party SDSM.[31] Its leader Venko Filipče was concerned that such a policy is leading the country to a hostagе situation relative to Hungary, and Mickoski wants to implement Orbán's autocratic system in North Macedonia.[32] According to news sources, after VMRO-DPMNE came to power, the foreign policy priorities of the country changed, with Mickoski setting himself up to spread Orbanism there, as his predecessor Gruevski, who is a fugitive in Budapest.[33] In this way, Orbán saw an opportunity to increase Hungarian influence in the region.[34] Per Bulgarian historians, Orbán's position in the European Union is complicated and it is important for the landlocked Hungary to retain Pan-European Corridor X, which gives it access to the Mediterranean and Chinese production.[35][36]
Simultaneously, Mickoski argued that the construction of Pan-European Corridor VIII was unfeasible. This project secures a direct railway connection between North Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria. The railway has been under construction for over 30 years, but without much success. He suggested reallocating the European funds to modernize the existing railway line on Pan-European Corridor X instead, which links North Macedonia with Hungary, Serbia and Greece.[37] Mickoski's claims on the impracticability of the project were rejected by the managements of the Macedonian and Bulgarian railways.[38][39][40] Moreover, North Macedonia signed a memorandum on the construction of Corridor VIII during the NATO 2024 Washington summit, where Mickoski was present.[41] Nevertheless, Mickoski's office stated that his government was freezing the construction of Corridor VIII.[42] Some analysts suppose, in this way Mickoski was included in the building of an axis between Skopje, Belgrade and Budapest that would defend Moscow's interests on the Balkans.[43][44][45] Others, see in this also an intervention of Beijing, which seeks to consolidate the transport corridor from Greece to Hungary as part of his European expansion.[46]
Personal life and views
[edit]Mickoski is married and has two children.[8] Apart from his native language Macedonian, he also knows English and some Italian.[1]
Shortly after his assumption of office, the results of the 2023 Albanian census were published, from which it appeared that there are a little more than 7,000 Bulgarians and around 2,000 Macedonians. Mickoski stated on that occasion, that this was the result of Bulgarian propaganda and assimilationist policy there, as well as of the carelessness of the previous government.[47][48][49] On the other hand, over 100,000 Macedonian nationals have received Bulgarian citizenship in the last decades, most of them based on declared Bulgarian origin.[50] In this case, Mickoski claimed, that this situation was based on Bulgaria's accession to the European Union, and all Macedonians will tear up their Bulgarian passports after North Macedonia is accepted into the EU.[51]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Христијан Мицкоски - претседател на Владата". Kanal 5 (in Macedonian). 23 June 2024. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Новиот генерален секретар на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ е Христијан Мицкоски, директор на ЕЛЕМ". МКД.мк (in Macedonian). 30 June 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2019.
- ^ "Мицкоски Христијан". Универзитет "Св. Кирил и Методиј", Машински факултет – Скопје. 22 June 2009. Archived from the original on 24 December 2017.
- ^ "Христијан Мицкоски е новиот претседател на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ". NovaTV (in Macedonian). 23 December 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Мицкоски е избран во звање редовен професор на Mашинскиот факултет во Скопје". Netpress (in Macedonian). 19 December 2019. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Христијан Мицковски - нов лидер на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ". 24 ВЕСТИ. 23 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b "Hristijan Mickoski to Lead Macedonia's Frail Opposition". Balkan Insight. 23 December 2017.
- ^ a b c Димковиќ-Мишевска, Габриела (5 December 2017). "Христијан Мицкоски иден лидер на ВМРО-ДПМНЕ?!". МАКФАКС (in Macedonian). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
- ^ Деск 2 (7 March 2024). "Георгиевски го нарече Мицкоски „идеолошки наследник на Четничкиот вардарски корпус"". Рацин.мк (in Macedonian). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Rizaov, Erol; Vesnik, Nezavisen (7 July 2019). "Mickoski's offer no longer stands". Independent Balkan News Agency. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021.
- ^ Taylor, Alice; Trkanjec, Zeljko (25 February 2022). "War with Russia and what it means for the Western Balkans". www.euractiv.com. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Mickoski: Zaev's deal is capitulation, VMRO-DPMNE will not support it". 13 June 2018. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Service, RFE/RL's Balkan. "Debate Derailed In North Macedonian Parliament Amid Unrest Over Proposed Deal With EU, Bulgaria". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Мицкоски се зарече да напусне политиката, ако българите бъдат вписани в Конституцията на РСМ". Dnes.dir.bg. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "ВМРО-ДПМНЕ обяви въпроса за референдума, свързан с Договора за приятелство с България". Dnes.dir.bg. 5 September 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia Opposition Seeks Referendum Against Bulgaria Deal". Balkan Insight. 6 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Mickoski in Budapest meets with Orban, says support from Hungary proof of friendship". MIA. 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia Opposition Leader Attends Orban's Victory Party". Balkan Insight. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
- ^ "Орбан и Вучич поздравиха Силяновска и ВМРО-ДПМНЕ с изборната победа". www.bta.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Understanding the Orbán-Vučić Relationship". www.policysolutions.hu. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Griessler, Christina; Elek, Fanni; Elek, Christina Griessler and Fanni (22 October 2021). "Quo vadis media pluralism in Europe? A contextualization from an Austrian perspective". Österreichische Gesellschaft für Europapolitik (in German). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ Bieber, Florian (2 July 2024). "Why Serbia's President Is a Threat to Europe". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia's center-right leader given official mandate to form government after election win". Associated Press. 6 June 2024. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "The new Government was elected, whose president is Hristijan Mickoski". Sloboden Pecat. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia's parliament approves new gov't-Xinhua". english.news.cn. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Greece claims neighboring North Macedonia broke historic name deal, warns its EU hopes may suffer". Associated Press. 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 25 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
- ^ AI (24 June 2024). "Mickoski: Such a Bulgarian diktat under such circumstances while I am prime minister will not pass and there will be no constitutional changes". European Newsroom. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Съобщение". www.mfa.bg (in Bulgarian). Retrieved 28 June 2024.
- ^ "Close Allies, Fewer Albanians and a Moscow Fan – North Macedonia's Govt Takes Shape". Balkan Insight. 20 June 2024.
- ^ "Mickoski - Orban: Agreement reached on special financial cooperation with Hungary". MIA. 11 July 2024.
- ^ "North Macedonia Opposition Condemns Loan from Hungary". Balkan Insight. 12 July 2024.
- ^ Филипче: Кредитот на Мицкоски е политичко заложништво. 12.07.2024, Deutsche Welle.
- ^ Will North Macedonia become Orban’s Balkan gateway? 22.06.2024, Ekathimerini.
- ^ Orbán and the Hungarians are penetrating deeper and deeper into the Balkans. 08.08.2024, Слободен печат.
- ^ Историк обясни защо Виктор Орбан има интерес да даде огромен заем на РСМ. 05.08.2024, ON AIR.
- ^ Доц. д-р Милен Михов: Конституция или коридор ни трябват. 20 юли 2024, Епицентър.
- ^ North Macedonia's PM: Corridor 8 Project Infeasible, Urges Funds to Bypass Bulgaria and Upgrade Corridor 10, infoBalkans.com, 07/23/2024.
- ^ Северномакедонските железници: Мицкоски лъже за проблемите на Коридор №8. Factor.bg., 30.07.2024.
- ^ София: Мицкоски манипулира, има план и подсигурени над 2 млрд. лв. за изграждането на Коридор 8 от България. БГНЕС, 10.08.2024.
- ^ "National Railway Infrastructure Company refutes Skopje's claims about Corridor No. 8". Bulgarian National Radio. 8 August 2024.
- ^ „Военен Шенген“ – Румъния, България и Гърция създават коридор за военна мобилност. 13.07.2024 БТА.
- ^ От кабинета на Мицкоски: Не се отказваме от Коридор 8, но няма да го строим. BGNES, 10.08.2024.
- ^ Разузнавач од ВМРО-ДПМНЕ: Мицкоски работи за Будимпешта и Белград , кои се синоним за Москва на Балканите. March 3, 2024
- ^ Журналистът Николай Кръстев: Чрез кабинета на Мицкоски ще се чува думата на Москва, Будапеща и Белград. FROGNEWS, 24.06.2024.
- ^ Чираци на Кремъл и Белград окупират Македония на Мицкоски. BGNES, 25.07.2024.
- ^ China Increasing Its Bets on Hungary and Serbia. July 22, 2024, GIS Reports.
- ^ Over 7,000 People Identify as Bulgarians in Last Census in Albania. Bulgarian News Agency, 28.06.2024.
- ^ North Macedonia's Foreign Ministry Voices Concern over Albanian Census Data. Bulgarian News Agency, 29.06.2024.
- ^ Mickoski Comments Albanian Census: Bulgaria Used Vacuum Left by Previous Skopje Government. Bulgarian News Agency, 04.07.2024.
- ^ ЧЕТИРИСТОТИН ТРИДЕСЕТ И СЕДМО ЗАСЕДАНИЕ София, петък, 11 декември 2020 г. Открито в 9,04 ч.
- ^ Мицкоски: Македонците ще скъсат българските си паспорти веднага щом влезем в ЕС. NOVA, 29 юли 2024.