Parliament adopts constitutional changes

With 81 votes “for” and not a single one against, the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia today voted on the constitutional changes arising from the Prespa Agreement.

Uncertainty until the last moment

The negotiations regarding the demands of Besa continued today as well, which again was a reason for postponing the session for constitutional changes.

In the afternoon hours, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Biljal Kasami from Besa succeeded to find a common language and to agree in regards to the demands of Kasami’s party.

“We succeeded in reaching an agreement on the finalization of the constitutional amendments and the constitutional law, with which at least 2/3 majority is provided in Parliament”, is said in the joint announcement of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the new parliamentary group of VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition.

“We have received as much as possible good text of the constitutional amendments and the constitutional law on implementing the Prespa Agreement, with which once again the Macedonian identity is being confirmed, the internal application of the Prespa Agreement and the entering into force of the constitutional amendments”, they add.

Hence, they confirm that citizenship is Macedonian / citizen of Republic of North Macedonia.

VMRO-DPMNE defeated and marginalized

The MPs of the biggest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE today again were not present in the parliamentary hall while the voting on the constitutional changes lasted.

The President of the party, Hristijan Mickoski, for today convened a session of the Executive Committee and a meeting with the VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group.

The party through spokesperson Naum Stoilkovski today at a press conference accused the government that in the past 24 hours fierce pressure had been carried out with money and promises over the MPs for accepting the constitutional changes.

“Macedonia is a victim of personal desire to save Zaev’s political career, and for Macedonia that means trampled dignity and a changed name. The government has been carrying out fierce pressure in the past 24 hours for accepting the constitutional changes. Money are in the game, a promise for avoiding political persecution, all with the purpose for voting for the constitutional changes. According to unconfirmed information, former officials of our party are put in the function of convincing their relatives and friends to vote for the constitutional changes”, stated Stoilkovski.

The MP from the group of 8 MPs who support the constitutional changes, Elizabeta Kancevska Milevska accused her former party VMRO-DPMNE of false patriotism.

She explained the amendment with which they demand Republic of North Macedonia to be used only for international use. She expressed regret that VMRO-DPMNE are not at the parliamentary session to elaborate their arguments.

“VMRO-DPMNE chose the easiest and most disgraceful way not to attend the session. I want to tell them that we are not traitors, but that they are, who are putting their personal interests before the state ones”, said Kancevska Milevska.

“Losing identity or…?”

CIVIL – Center for Freedom ahead of today’s events in Parliament and the decision-making about the future of Macedonia, published its publication “Losing identity or…?” online, in which prominent analysts, experts, professors and public figures speak about the Prespa Agreement and what it means in the context of the identity.

М. Ivanovska