Macedonian president escapes impeachment over wiretap scandal
Source: Reuters
The Macedonian parliament on Tuesday rejected a motion to impeach President Gjorge Ivanov over his decision to pardon 56 officials involved in a wiretap scandal that triggered a year-long political crisis.
The biggest opposition party, the Social Democrats, filed the motion after Ivanov pardoned officials who had been investigated over wiretaps alleging ex-prime minister Nikola Gruevski and his close allies authorized eavesdropping on more than 20,000 people.
Ivanov's decision drew nationwide protests that led to the cancellation of an election set for June 5. But two weeks ago Ivanov bowed to pressure from European Union and U.S. officials and revoked the pardons.
On Tuesday, the Social Democrats failed to secure a two-third majority in favor of impeachment in the 123-seat parliament. With only 35 votes in favor and 47 against, parliament rejected the initiative.
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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-macedonia-politics-idUSKCN0Z7269
Tue Jun 21, 2016 12:03pm EDT
