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Macedonian protesters spray color paint on government building

Tuesday, 28 June 2016 4:38 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 28 June 2016 5:41 AM ]

Protesters gather outside the parliament building in Skopje on June 20, 2016. ©AFP

Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets in Macedonia’s capital, Skopje, urging President Gjorge Ivanov to step down for pardoning officials accused of fraud.

On Monday, the angry demonstrators gathered in front of the Ministry of Justice building, spraying paint on its walls amid a heavy police presence in the area.

Last week, the parliament rejected an initiative filed by the Social Democrats to impeach Ivanov for pardoning 56 officials accused of ordering illegal wiretapping of communications, electoral violations and corruption.

The president’s move sparked nationwide protests that led to the cancellation of an election set for June 5. It has also drawn international condemnations, with the European Union warning it may negatively affect the Balkan country’s chance to join the bloc.

Ivanov, eventually, bowed to pressure from the EU and the US and revoked the pardons two weeks ago.

A demonstrator drops a barrel of paint on the walls of the Ministry of Justice building on June 20, 2016. ©AFP

Under an EU-brokered deal last year, Macedonia’s political parties have agreed to hold an early election. A prosecutor should also investigate allegations emerging from the wiretaps released by the opposition.

Both the ruling Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) and the Social Democrats agree that new elections would be a way out of the year-long political crisis.

The opposition, however, says free and fair elections are not possible unless voter lists are updated and media freedom is guaranteed.

Reacting to the opposition allegations, the government also filed charges against the opposition and accused it of “spying” and attempting to “destabilize” the country.

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