Macedonia Minister Accused of Reckless Driving

Macedonia's opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, on Monday accused the ruling VMRO DPMNE party of trying to duck responsibility for a "mischievous" deputy minister who damaged two cars on Friday in Skopje with an official vehicle and then fled from the scene.

"By acting recklessly, [Dime] Spasov has set a bad example for children and for citizens. He has attempted to dodge accountability instead of being ashamed and fully aware of the consequences," the SDSM wrote in a press release.

The party said VMRO DPMNE party leader Nikola Gruevski "and associates like Dime Spasov" were clearly not fit to lead the country, no least "because they endanger people's lives and security."

Spasov reportedly caused two car accidents on Friday by bumping into parked cars in central Skopje allegedly while driving under the influence of alcohol.

The police said in a press release that they stopped him after they were alerted about the car accidents.

According to the police, Spasov initially admitted being behind the steering wheel but soon fled the scene on foot, leaving his female companion inside the ministry vehicle.

Later the same night, Spasov's official driver insisted he had been driving the vehicle but the police said his testimony did not match with that of Spasov's female companion, who claimed that Spasov was driving.

In later press releases issued during the weekend, the ruling party insisted that the deputy minister had been chased by "ethnic Albanians with serious criminal backgrounds" and had bumped into the cars trying to evade them.

Spasov has filed charges against two Albanians, Daut Dinarica and Omer Adzami, who on Sunday also appeared at police stations and opposed his claims.

The...