As the reality of what is now considered normal begins to kick in, Cvetin and Jason discuss some non-events in Macedonia (Macedonia joins NATO and gets a green light for EU accession talks – yawn…..), and Zoran Zaev’s 2 billion Euro hole in the Macedonian Government budget, before moving on to some more interesting subjects – like what will life look after post-coronavirus in certain areas. On this they tackle education issues, urban vs. rural living, and how to vote in the age of the virus. And since we seem to be in this for at least the next month, they’ll have plenty more to say on how life will change in many other areas.
Music by:
- Mizar (Pocesna strelba - Last salute)
With gratitude to Mark Steyn for giving us the idea for the podcast name
Cold Open: The country known to most Twitter users by the red and yellow emoji formally joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, on Friday, March 27. A veritable gusher of mutual and self-admiring congratulations promptly issued forth on Twitter, with politicians, diplomats, unelected but very bossy NGO and civil society leaders, and other various lost souls all competing with each other to offer their very best. Except for the vast majority of the world, even the vast majority in the Twitter-sphere, not a soul noticed. Nevertheless, Macedonia is now a member of NATO and, by the looks of it, will begin accession talks with the European Union in – checks notes – well, we don’t have a date or even a hint of a date but Macedonia will begin those accession talks at some point assuming the EU continues to exist. Which seems to be in doubt these days. Even as the coronavirus makes Europe its vast home, it seems that EU leaders can’t do much about it and continue with their squabbling. Even NATO, with its vast resources, is eerily quiet these days. But not to worry, says SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, the once, and he hopes to be future prime minister of Macedonia. Zaev announced last week that the Macedonian government budget faces a staggering 2 billion euro shortfall. His solution? Cut the public administration’s salary down to minimum wage.
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