Nikola Gruevski
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Nikola Gruevski
Никола Груевски |
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 27 August 2006 |
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| President | Branko Crvenkovski Gjorge Ivanov |
| Preceded by | Vlado Bučkovski |
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| Born | 31 August 1970 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia |
| Political party | VMRO-DPMNE |
| Spouse | Borkica Gruevska |
| Religion | Macedonian Orthodox |
Nikola Gruevski (Macedonian: Никола Груевски, 
[ˈnikɔla ˈɡruefski] (help·info)) (born 31 August 1970 in Skopje) has been the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia since 27 August 2006. He has also been the leader of VMRO-DPMNE since May 2003. He was Minister of Finance in the VMRO-DPMNE government led by Ljubčo Georgievski until September 2002.
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[edit] Political career
[edit] Minister of Finance
Among Gruevski's achievements was that the denationalization process, on his initiative, was intensified and practically commenced, resulting in restitution of a large number of unjustly confiscated real estate in the period 1945-1990. Gruevski also implemented financial reforms, including the value added tax of 18%, requiring fiscal receipts for all Macedonian businesses, which was a program designed to fight tax evasion. His most famous program was "Купувајте Македонски Производи" ("Buy Macedonian Products"), which promoted buying Macedonian products, designated by logo with a sun with a happy face. His hope was that the program would boost domestic businesses.
[edit] Party leader
After VMRO-DPMNE was defeated in the Macedonian parliamentary election, 2002, there was a period of infighting within the party. Gruevski emerged as the pro-EU leader, and was elected as a leader of the party, after Ljubčo Georgievski left the position. Under his leadership, VMRO-DPMNE acquired an observer status in the European People’s Party (2007) and in the International Democrat Union (2008). Furthermore, the Conservative Party of Norway (Hoyre) awarded to VMRO-DPMNE a prize for its contribution to the promotion of democracy, human rights, economic reforms and peaceful politics (2009).
[edit] Prime Minister
The VMRO-DPMNE won the Macedonian parliamentary election, 2006. On August 25 he constituted the new government. His government has many new faces, mostly in their 30s in key ministries and other positions. He was the first to incorporate Macedonian expatriates from various worldwide positions as CEO's in his new government.
In June 2007, he attended a meeting in Tirana, Albania along with U.S President George W. Bush, President of the United States, Sali Berisha, Prime Minister of Albania and Ivo Sanader, Prime Minister of Croatia.
On 1 June 2008, the coalition led by his party VMRO-DPMNE won Macedonian parliamentary election, 2008, their second electoral victory in a row, winning more than half of the seats in the parliament. [1] He created a government with the Democratic Union for Integration. [2]
During the tenure of the Prime Minister Gruevski, significant results have been achieved in the economy, including introduction of the flat tax concept so that Macedonia became a country with the lowest taxes in Europe.
The volume of investments, compared to the previous years, started to grow significantly (2007-2008). During the time of Nikola Gruevski as a President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, the country has experienced the highest rates of economic development since its independence in 1991. In 2007 it reached 5.9%, and in the following 2008 it was 5%, with a parallel strong growth in the exports.
Simultaneously, a range of reform undertakings and projects have taken place aimed at business climate improvement, and significant investments in infrastructure, culture and sport have been commenced, while considerable progress has been achieved in the fight against crime and corruption.
The reforms in education have resulted in 95% of the pupils who completed elementary education in 2008 to be enrolled in high schools, and as much as 85% of the students who finished high school to continue their education at the universities. Moreover, the education budget has been raised at a level of more than 5% of GDP that corresponds to or is even higher than the average in certain EU and OECD countries.
During the time of Nikola Gruevski as a Prime Minister, two new state universities and above 20 state faculties have been opened, and a great expansion in the private high education institutions has taken place.
Moreover, significant reforms and investments have been realized in the field of information technology and its approximation to the youth, whereas the rate of Internet access was increased to 29% in 2008, from 13% in 2006.
A range of measures intended for increasing the farmers’ standard have been implemented, whereas the subsidies for agriculture were increased 12 times at annual level (2009) compared with the period prior to his becoming a President of the Government.
[edit] Personal life
He completed primary and secondary education in Skopje. After having graduated from the Faculty of Economics at St. Clement Ohridski University - Bitola (1994), he worked in the banking sector. He also acquired qualifications for the international capital market from the London Securities Institute (1996). On 12 December 2006, he obtained a Master’s degree from the Faculty of Economics at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. He was a President and a founder of the Brokerage Association of the Republic of Macedonia (1998) and made the first transaction at the Macedonian Stock Exchange.
He has a strong faith in God, and the ideal that guides him during his life and work is a constant and highly dedicated work to the wellbeing and prosperity of his country.
He is married to Borkica, with whom he has one child, the daughter Anastasija.
[edit] Books
- Gruevski, Nikola and Vaknin, Sam Macedonian Economy on a Crossroads, Skopje, NIP Noval Literatura, 1998. ISBN 9989610010
- Gruevski, Nikola The Way Out
[edit] References
- ^ Parties and Elections in Europe - Macedonia
- ^ "PM claims win in Macedonian poll" BBC NEws, Link accessed 01/06/08
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Nikola Gruevski |
- Biography of Gruevski at the Homepage of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia
- Curriculum Vitae written by Nikola Gruevski
- Book: Makedonskata ekonomija na krstopat : na patot kon pozdrava ekonomija by Nikola Gruevski and Sam Vaknin
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