New ministers
The Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia late last night, following many hours of debate, elected the new ministers proposed by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Naser Nuredini will head the Ministry of Environment, Goran Milevski the Ministry of Local Self-Government, Sadula Duraki the Ministry of Political System, Trajan Dimkovski the Ministry of Agriculture and Husni Ismaili the Ministry of Culture. Prime Minister Zaev stated that the changes in the Government include no more than eight people, that is why they proposed a change of seven. He announced that the changes will continue also in other institutions, at the central level, at municipal branches, public institutions…
MOI action
The Ministry of Interior this morning arrested ten citizens upon the order of the Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime and Corruption. Most of them are employed in the Ministry of Transport and Communications. They are accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for abuse of official position and authorization. The action is the result of several months of comprehensive pre-investigation procedures. Among the suspects are former senior officials, administrative employees and persons performing work of public interest.
Sex change
The Ministry of Health announced that sex reassignment surgeries will not be funded by the Health Insurance Fund, and that such procedures will not be carried out in a public health institution. This decision comes after an avalanche of reactions followed the statement of Minister of Health Venko Filipce that sex reassignment surgeries will be funded by the Health Insurance Fund and that patients will not pay for them like now anymore.
Voting and votes
The exhibition “Voting and votes” – posters of the Swiss campaigns from 1918 until now of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, which opened yesterday in the Museum of Contemporary Art in Skopje, marked the beginning of the project supported by Switzerland “Support for the electoral reforms in North Macedonia”. This project aims to support the democratic and credible election processes that facilitate political participation and social integration by enabling voters to choose their representatives and demand accountability from them.
LGBTI community
A Pride Parade will be organized this year for the first time in Macedonia, on June 29, which will start from the Park Woman Warrior at 12 noon and will continue towards the City park. At the end point, the Shell in the City Park, Drag Queens Linda Socialista and Kaja Mor will perform. In addition to the anticipated speeches, there will also be a musical program that includes Tamara Todevska, princess Donatsu and Ivana Dragsic, Zoki Bejbe, Iri Screc, Ana Malo and Uzun Baba.
What marked the pride month, since the first Pride Parade in Skopje was announced, is hate speech and xenophobia…
Koco Andonovski, part of the organizing board of the Parade, said that they have, nevertheless, received great support.
“After we announced that we would have the first Skopje Pride, the attempts to overshadow the message for equality and to underestimate the possibility for increasing awareness on homophobia, transphobia and biphobia was evident. But despite all this, we received great support and many people contacted us to tell us that they will come with us on June 29, to walk the march – in memory of all fighters for human rights of the LGBTI community in the past, with the support of all marginalized groups and fighters for human rights in this destabilized present and with the ideal for a society where everyone will be equal – for the future generations”, said Andonovski.
B. Jordanovska
