NEWS OF THE DAY: MPs pass Law on the Assembly
With 82 votes in favour of the total number of MPs, and 22 votes in favour of the MPs of the non-majority communities, the MPs adopted the amendments to the Law on Assembly. With these amendments that were adopted consensually by all parties, the Assembly gains greater independence by receiving an independent budget, its own security and greater independence in the employment of the administration.
President of Parliament Talat Xhaferi urges representatives of political parties to respect the call of EU representatives for us to find a solution for the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office. He said that the Parliament can pass the Law on the Public Prosecutor’s Office at any time, if the parties previously overcome the differences.
An Agreement for construction of the first two kilometres of the Skopje – Blace highway was signed today in the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. The Agreement was signed by the Director of the Public Enterprise for State Roads, Zoran Kitanov and the General Director of “Granit”, Zoran Milkovski. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, and at the same time in the role of Government Coordinator for the Skopje – Blace project, Bujar Osmani, and Minister of Transport and Communications Goran Sugareski were also present at the event.
Dehran Muratov: It’s good that the technical minister has finally seen what her fellow party members have left from their 11 years of rule. They hadn’t even painted the walls from 2006 to 2016 while they were in power.
STATEMENT OF THE DAY
POLITICALLY OKAY CORAL
An Agreement for construction of the first two kilometres of the Skopje – Blace highway was signed today in the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia. Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Bujar Osmani, is the Coordinator of the project. It is not a small thing to construct two kilometres of a highway, the construction is planned to last one and a half year.
The President of Parliament, Talat Xhaferi, clearly told the MPs that the EU asks that we pass the Law on Public Prosecutor’s Office. “If the message of French Ambassador Christian Thimonier is that the Law on Public Prosecutor’s Office is very important for receiving a date for negotiations, then the political parties need to overcome the barriers and agree”, he said.
In Parliament, the MPs adopted the amendments to the Law on Assembly, with which the Assembly gains greater independence – independent budget, its own security and greater independence in the employment of the administration.
Additional Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Sanela Skrijelj, called on technical Minister Rahela Mizrahi to work constructively and to work together in the interest of the citizens. She assures the citizens that the new technical Government will have no influence and will not reflect negatively on them and the reform process. All rights in the areas of social protection, child protection will continue to be paid regularly. But we are yet to see whether Minister Mirzahi will grab the extended hand and will be a minister of all citizens, or will continue with the party task and directions.
The support of our country continues for the start of the negotiations with the EU. Ambassador of Republic of Croatia Nives Tiganj, who presented the Croatian EU presidency in the next six months, said that Croatia, seven years after joining the EU club, is for the first time assuming the presidency, and as the youngest member has a chance to shape the European political agenda. She highlighted that we can always count on strong political support from Croatia on our path to the EU. SDSM leader Zoran Zaev also wrote on Facebook that the only alternative for the RN Macedonia is the EU.
NOT LESS IMPORTANT
Ambassador of Republic of Croatia Nives Tiganj, who presented the Croatian EU presidency in the next six months, said that Croatia, seven years after joining the EU club, is for the first time assuming the presidency, and as the youngest member has a chance to shape the European political agenda. The Ambassador pointed out that during the Croatian presidency, but also in the years to follow, Croatia will continue to emphasize the need of speeding up North Macedonia’s accession process. Because, as she said, the Macedonian people have always been regarded as friends of our country, and have clearly shown that they belong in the European family.
CIVIL NEWS
CIVIL is starting 2020 with two seminars on transparent and responsible political processes intended for the Polog and South-Eastern planning region.
The seminar in Gostivar will be held on January 25, at Hotel Bunar (in the center of Gostivar), with citizens from the municipalities of the Polog planning region having the right to participate as follows: Gostivar, Tetovo, Vrapciste, Brvenica, Zelino, Bogovinje, Tearce, Jegunovce, Kicevo, Mavrovo and Rostuse.
Application form for participation in regional seminar “Civic Lenses” in Gostivar
FROM OUR ANGLE
What on earth did Mickoski want to say?!, asks Saso Ordanoski in his column, adding: “Mickoski is putting a ‘hot potato’ in the hands of his technical minister in the MOI: instead of dealing with the vehicle fleet in the Ministry, shouldn’t Mr. Chulev be dealing with an investigation on Gruevski’s escape from the country? And so serious security circles are speculating that he, supposedly, was the last senior security official who had spoken to Gruevski before we lose sight of him on his way to Budapest”.
“VMRO-DPMNE can’t exist if it’s not in power. It’s in their code to rule at every cost, otherwise they will fall apart. Ruling for them is getting immeasurably rich, abusing power in order to enjoy in the sadistic impulses and healing of their personal frustrations and complexes. There is no idea, no concept, no view or strategy, just bloodthirst and a sick need for authoritarian, sadistic rule and exploitation”, writes Xhabir Deralla in his burst – It’s too late for apologizing and remorse.
Zoran Ivanov in his column asks from Zoran Zaev who promised, but did not swing with the broom, to swing with the handle stronger in this pre-election period.
Dehran Muratov
In cooperation with: Xhabir Deralla, Biljana Jordanovska, Angela Petrovska, Saso Ordanoski, Zoran Ivanov
Translation: Natasa Cvetkovska
