Macedonia parliament picks special prosecutor for wiretap scandal, after EU-brokered deal
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Macedonia's parliament has named a special prosecutor to investigate claims that the conservative government allegedly ordered a massive wiretapping operation, in a scandal that has plunged the Balkan country into political crisis.
Lawmakers backed the appointment of public prosecutor Katica Janeva for the post in a vote late Tuesday, following an agreement between the country's four main political parties.
The appointed is key part of a European Union-brokered deal to try and defuse the crisis. Under that agreement, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski will also hand over power to a caretaker government next January for an early general election in April.
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The opposition Social Democrats claim the government ordered the illegal wiretaps of 20,000 people, including police officials, judges, religious leaders, journalists and foreign diplomats.
Gruevski has denied any wrongdoing.