Pardons Commission head and Members Resign, President Accepts Resignations

On Saturday, the head of the Pardons Commission, Metodija Kanevcev, and all of its members, Gordan Kalajdziev, Arlinda Kadri Sahinovic, Zora Mitic, Ana Gjorgjieva Ivanovska, and Ajten Shaqiri, resigned, citing personal and professional principles.

The President, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, said she accepted the resignations. In the period ahead, she added, she will carry out a consultations process for the new composition, as well as over “the institutional and legal weaknesses” in the pardons system.

Commenting on the resignations, PM Hristijan Mickoski said to err was human.

“When the erring is determined, if one takes responsibility, that’s then virtuous,” he pointed out, adding that the resignation was the only option for the composition as a moral act.

On the other hand, SDSM’s stand is that the President has full responsibility, while she and the government “obviously think the Commission should be the scapegoat”.