BRUSSELS -- EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn has criticized a decision by Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov to pardon all politicians facing criminal investigations over the wiretapping scandal that engulfed the country in 2015.
Hahn told RFE/RL that Ivanov's announcement that he would "pardon everybody is something which, in my understanding, is not acceptable" nor in line with the rule of law.
Hahn also said he has "serious doubts if credible elections are still possible" in Macedonia.
Macedonia's parliament was dissolved on April 6, ushering in an early election on June 5 aimed at ending a political crisis sparked by opposition allegations that the governing conservatives illegally wiretapped some 20,000 people -- including police, judges, journalists, and foreign diplomats.
Macedonian opposition leader Zoran Zaev on April 12 called on Ivanov to resign, saying his decision to halt all criminal investigations into the wiretapping scandal amounted to a coup.
Zaev also said he would call for public protests against Ivanov’s decision.