SDSM claims that prime minister Mickoski wants to arrest Gruevski - and that it is not a question of justice, but of political calculation. According to the opposition, there are two conditions Mickoski must meet to maintain his image with Europe: constitutional changes that include the Bulgarians, and the arrest of his political mentor Nikola Gruevski.

SDSM's argument: Mickoski earlier eliminated competing vice-presidents inside his own party and protected the positions of people close to Gruevski - in order to engineer a controlled environment. Now, with European pressure rising, the moment has come to sacrifice the mentor too. "Betraying the one who gave you power" - that is the frame SDSM is using to portray the move.

VMRO-DPMNE has not directly commented, but the party machine is running its own narrative. Either way, the debate signals that Macedonia's political theatre is entering a new phase - where former allies become tokens in a bigger game. Will Gruevski actually be arrested? That is a question Macedonia has been hearing on and off for years. This time, it sounds more serious.