Listen to the President

President Stevo Pendarovski has shown how responsible politicians should behave, especially when in office. In just a few points, the head of state said what every free-thinking citizen thinks: the investigation into the “Racket” case is not fast and thorough, prosecutors went on vacation as if it were a regular case, the public’s disappointment with the special prosecutor’s behavior is enormous, and the rule of law is built not just by words, but by accountability to all who have committed a crime, even if they were well-known officials.
Pendarovski spoke as an ordinary citizen and behaved as a statesman. He did not use empty phrases, yet a straightforward approach, careful not to cross the lines of authority he has, and said that we must all find out if and whom protects the involved in the case that shocked the government building on Ilinden Street. This is the only way to restore confidence in the rule of law.
During these three months of presidency, Pendarovski strives to give the impression that the non-party function he is performing is truly perceived and experienced as such. Certainly, the fact that he won the presidential race thanks to the support of SDSM and DUI, and the fact that he publicly admits that he and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev share similar thought and opinions, cannot be avoided.
However, it is noticeable that he does not argue with the opposition, he does not insult his opponents, he does not mock the lower classes. At least he hasn’t done any of these things so far. Being a professor and having experience in both counter-intelligence and diplomacy obviously helps him with the public image and image he is building as president.
He probably made a mistake when he failed to invite the opposition leader to his inauguration. Who knows whether Hristijan Mickoski would have accepted the invitation and put him in a checkmate position, but this gave him the perfect alibi not to have to give legitimacy to the president elected by the will of the citizens. And then not find spare time to have a cup of coffee with him for weeks and months.
When it comes to the “Racket” affair, the daily slacking and delaying of the investigation leaves room for spreading all possible theories, but none of them favor the ruling. It is unclear whether they are aware of this. They might waste it all for a couple of rotten people.
Pendarovski’s situation is comfortable enough to say what is really on his mind, because his job description has nothing to do with direct policy-making in the country. But it also has something to do with creating social awareness and ambience in society. Of course, it is also important that Pendarovski did not cooperate with Boki 13 or his NGO in any way, nor did he associate with controversial businessmen and greedy prosecutors. And so he can freely say that we are talking about a huge criminal affair that shakes the foundations of important state institutions and calls into question, more than ever, citizens’ trust in politicians and in their own country.
In the meantime, here are the questions we look forward to answering: How do Boki 13 and Zoki Kicheec have so much power? Have they personally decided to extort money from businessmen who have trouble with the SPO or have worked with Katica Janeva? If not, why did they mention her in every conversation? Why isn’t she called for questioning? Was Kamchev really racketeered or did he want to pay to be released? If in the beginning he had a deal with the “racketeers”, when did he decide to set them up? Did anyone tell him to do that? Who helped him? Why did people from the ruling party’s top and state leadership socialize with Boki 13? Didn’t they know his dubious past? Will anyone but Boki and Kicetz be held accountable? Does anyone protect the major players in the case? Are they coming from inside or outside? Who profited from the whole mess and who will benefit most from compromising the SPO, the uncertainty over the prosecution law, and the attack on the government? Who will escape the persecution of the criminals we heard in the first so-called “bombs”?
I hope the President won’t have to address the same issue again.