NEWS OF THE DAY: Freedom Festival begins, today with two panel discussions

The Freedom Festival organized by CIIVIL, on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, begins with two panel discussions “Electoral Reforms: Wishes as opposed to reality” and “Pandemic and infodemic”, at Hotel Park Residence, Skopje.

Oliver Derkoski, President of the SEC, Katica Nikolovska, member of the SCPC, Radmila Lazareska Gerovska from the Ministry of Justice and Blagica Dimitrovska, President of the association Inkluziva participated in the first discussion as speakers. CIVIL representatives included Petrit Saracini and Xhabir Deralla. The panel discussion was moderated by Biljana Jordanovska.

Jasna Bacovska, university professor, Elida Zulbeari, editor of Portlab, Filip Stojanovski from Metamorphosis, Flaka Polozani, special advisor for media and broadcasting within MISA and Petrit Saracini, media expert and member of CIVIL participated in the second panel discussion. The panel discussion was moderated by Dehran Muratov.

CIVIL ACTIVITIES 

Polozhani: Ministry of Information Society and Administration has realized several activities on raising awareness on disinformation

Saracini: Social networks are usually the “stand” where fake news are served

Bacovska: Media culture and media literacy need to be systematically strengthened

Stojanovski: Fact checking to be integral part of journalistic activity

Deralla: A law that changes multiple times cannot be a good law, a new Electoral Code needs to be prepared from scratch

Saracini: Current election model represents inequality 

Dimitrovska: At the previous elections, people with disability showed that they do not fear challenges

Nikolovska: for the first time we have good results with direct monitoring of the elections on the ground

Lazareska Gerovska: Ministry of Justice will form a working group for amendments  to the Electoral Code

Derkoski: The elections are not a cluster for spreading the virus

FLASH NEWS 

In Skopje, the ninth edition of the Macedonia2025 Summit starts today in digital format. Economic reforms and recovering of the economy are in the focus of the Summit, with over 400 senior representatives of institutions and organizations, diplomats, executive directors, entrepreneurs, members of the academy and young leaders expected to join the Summit.  

VMRO-DPMNE announced a road blockade on the streets of Skopje from 12:30 to 14:00. From the party they inform that this time they will protest (again with cars), against the policies of the current government in regards to Bulgaria.

А. P. 

translation: N. Cvetkovska