Eurasia Press & News
Krusevo barber, Slavko Kalevski, says he has had much happier times working in his salon in this remote Macedonian mountain town since he banned discussions about politics in the shop.
A large sign saying “no talking politics inside” hanging on the door greets his customers, warning them to leave their hot political views on the ongoing election at the door.
“No politics, no brawls” Slavko told local daily Vest, “we talk about women or local gossip instead”.
He openly admits that he is a supporter of one of the two largest parties in the country, the opposition Social Democrats, but says that politics and the business that he has run for forty years do not go together.
“Politics is a dangerous business” he says. He explains how, when people in this town of just a few thousand, where “everyone knows everyone” meet in his shop and start talking about the ruling VMRO DPMNE and the Social Democrats it often ends in loud disputes.
“I do not want to make enemies out of my friends. Why, over politics? It’s not worth it?” he says.
His family, he says, has already been touched by the absurdities of local political disputes. His son lost his job as a geography teacher in the local school when the VMRO came to power three years ago and his daughter recently found a job after marrying a VMRO member.
