The executive committee of VMRO-DPMNE decided late last night not to accept the proposal of the opposition for holding early parliamentary elections, because, as they stress, at the moment there are no objective reasons for terminating the 4-year term entrusted by the citizens for implementation of the pledged projects of VMRO-DPMNE’s election program, MIA reports Thursday.

“It is unacceptable for VMRO-DPMNE to fully defocus the energy directed toward the implementation of its 4-year program, the fight against crime and corruption, the handling of the effects of the economic crisis, the realization of the Euro-Atlantic aspirations and the pursuit of all other state and national interests just because of Branko Crvenkovski’s bluffing and poker approach to politics,” the announcement from VMRO-DPMNE’s communication center says.

If early elections were called now, VMRO-DPMNE would poll at least twice as many parliamentary seats as SDSM and secure another 4-year term of office, party officials say.

“We are aware that SDSM and Branko Crvenkovski will try to take advantage of this decision of VMRO-DPMNE in order to score political points. However, our message to them is that they will be disappointed in the next elections when they face reality,” the announcement adds.

VMRO-DPMNE further explain that in 2008 the Macedonian Parliament was blocked and therefore the party accepted holding an early election in order to unblock the Parliament and make sure the reform resumed.

The decision of the executive committee of VMRO-DPMNE follows the Tuesday meeting of the party leadership headed by Nikola Gruevski with the presidents of the parties in the coalition “For Better Macedonia”.

VMRO-DPMNE’s coalition partner in office, BDI, previously said they were against holding an election now and that priority should be given to resolving the name issue impeding Macedonia’s integration into the EU and NATO.

At the march organized Sunday, opposition SDSM called on the Government to call an early election. In addition, the parliamentary group of SDSM provided three documents to the Parliament: modifications to the election law, creating basic conditions for fair and democratic elections, a decision for setting up a commission for control and supervision of the voters’ list and an initiative for dissolution of the Parliament.