To the modern day reader, this scenario sounds awfully like present day North Korea. A dictator which segregates himself from the rest of humanity and prevents his population from leaving, denying them the possibility of experiencing a different way of life, to experience a new way of thinking, and as such prevents them from experiencing what the world has to offer. Yet national pride is high. The rhetoric that a dictator must hold is that what he is doing is in the interest of the general population, and what better way to do this than by military and national pride :
What may be more surprising to most however, is that these kind of dictators exist more closer to home. Right here in Europe. For most Europeans it would take less than a 3 hour flight to arrive to the Balkan Peninsula. In the Balkans you will find small countries, almost all with a population smaller than that of London. And it is here that you can find some of the finest examples of corrupt governments run by irresponsible leaders.
I will now turn to the focus of my post. The dystopian society created by Nikola Gruevski. The Big Brother of the Republic of Macedonia. The person who managed to convince the population that a vote for him is a vote for Macedonia. A vote for the opposition is a vote against Macedonia. It is a traitorous vote. He is the head of a party who uses the national hymn to incite feelings of patriotisms during political speeches. He wants you to believe he and his party are Macedonia. He and his party are representing your interests. He and his party will provide for you. And if you do not vote for him, you are a traitor to Macedonian people and their interests. Perhaps he has taken lessons from Kim Jong-un?
Macedonia is a small country with a population of approximately 2 million people. For the 2 million people that call Macedonia home, the society they live in has changed dramatically over the past decades. The older generation remember the glorious days of Yugoslavia, pre-break up. To many, those were the best days of their lives. The younger generation know of those days only through stories from their elders. These stories usually begin with 'It was better in those days. Everyone was employed, everyone was happy'.
What the young generation is faced today is what would be considered a nightmare to most from Western Europe. Youth unemployment is through the roof, young people do two, sometimes three university degrees in the hopes of getting a job. There is no job awaiting them at the end of it. Many go to work in whatever job opportunity presents itself. And these opportunities would pay 10 euros daily - if lucky.
With an average salary of 352 euros a month (source: http://goo.gl/TyzaJT), it is rare for young people to have the opportunity to go abroad to study. In fact, even when money is not an issue, they are faced by another issue. That is that Macedonia is not a member of the European Union. Almost all universities would therefore charge them non-EU rates for tutorship - which can reach the thousands of euros per semester.
So how does our Big Brother fair in this society? For the past 9 years he has been in power. Those on the inner circle are living a fantastic life. Not long after Gruevski rose to power his chief of interior had purchased a stolen car valued at £75.000. This car also happened to be stolen, and to belong to David Beckham (http://goo.gl/640pDG). Since then the government corruption has grown exponential. And the biggest money laundering schemes are not even hidden away - they are right in the centre of Skopje, the capital. In a project called Skope 2014, the government spent 560 million euros on what is possibly the most divisive cosmetic procedure ever. The investment went into statues and new neo-classical buildings.
Though faced with an admittedly tough job - integrating a country which has recently succeeded from a socialist regime into a democratised, European-centric society with a government that takes care of its people, he has managed to convert this country into a business with which to line his pockets.
How has he done this and been able to get away with it? By closing down opposition media (http://goo.gl/8ZXA35) and controlling state media (worst country for freedom of press - http://goo.gl/9w8GxB),by illegally phone tapping thousands of individuals including journalists and politicians (http://goo.gl/VK1vWV). Those of different mind are silenced in what are sometimes creative, sometimes brutal ways.
In a society in which senior public figures are accountable for their actions, the actions by Nikola Gruevski would be deemed criminal and he would be sent to prison. However, he has total control of Macedonia's judicial system. Therefore there is no prosecutor who would open a case upon him. And let us not forget that until recently it was his cousin, Mijalkov who was in control of the state intelligence services.
What have we seen from the international community in response? For the most party EU has been very lenient with Mr. Gruevski. I do believe that this is because he played his cards well. Whenever Gruevski would be summoned by Brussels for EU-integrative talks he would promise much, yet deliver little. In fact, Gruevski and his political opponent Zoran Zaev have been summoned numerous times to Brussels. Each time it feels as if they were school children who were summoned by the headmaster who is far too busy to deal with them, they received a slap on the wrist, and they head back to the playing ground where they continue as if nothing was.
It is also worth noting that it is most definitely not in Gruevski's interest to join the EU - for this would limit his power within his own country, and god forbid - he may have to be accountable for his actions!
The games played by Mr. Gruevski are nearing their end however. The European Union has woken up to the fact that he is a crook. He failed to fulfil his word given at the deal at Przhino - which would have paved the way for essential reforms which would allow for fair elections. The last elections - held only last year - were full of fraud and corruption (http://goo.gl/CCTO2r) .
Losing the backing of his European Union friends, he has turned to the biggest propaganda project he has ever developed. As if something out of a detective novel, he has gotten his propaganda crew together and posted videos of himself sorting out problems in small communities. How convenient that he suddenly has the consciousness to go out and solve community problems just as he is losing the power battle.
Though to anyone observing the situation it is clear that Gruevski is a crook and that his ability to run a country is as good as a sharks ability to fly, he remains popular among some for gold standard reason - money talks. He has employed far too many people in the public sector. He uses funds obtained on credit to employ people. These people do not add any value to the organization, they are just there because people need a job and a job provides loyalty. And when you have 10% of the population or more employed in public sector -there are no official figures, as there is no transparency in the government, then you have the families of 10% of the population that will vote for you.
The demise of Gruevski is slowly happening. People have in general woken up to the epic lies and deceptive manoeuvres he has done over the last decade, yet still there are fears he will be able to intimidate enough voters and to silence enough opposition to remain in power.
It remains to be seen.
It remains to be seen.
