SCPC

The State Commission for Prevention of Corruption at today’s session announced that it is opening new cases for five judges, in which it will be checking their property through the asset declarations they have submitted. This concerns the President of the Supreme Court, Jovo Vangelovski and former President of the Criminal Court Vladimir Pancevski, along with three judges: Sofia Lalicik, Svetlana Kostova and Aleksandra Zafirovska.

There will also be investigations for former Minister of Transport and Communications, Mile Janakieski, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilija Isajlovski and the ex-Secretary General of Government, Kiril Bozinovski.

Parliament

The Law on amending the Law on the Organization and Operation of the State Administration Bodies was passed today in Parliament, following two unsuccessful attempts due to lack of quorum. According to this Law, for which 80 MPs voted today, and for which a two-thirds majority was needed, a new Ministry for Political System and Inter-Community Relations will be formed.

Ombudsman

According to the Annual Report on the level of providing respect, promotion and protection of human rights and freedoms in 2018, almost 4500 complaints had been received by the Ombudsman. Of these, 947 complaints had been submitted in regards to the work of the courts. Citizens had also complained about the work of the judiciary, about party employments through arranged competitions, about the poor conditions in prisons and homes for orphans, as well as about the unlawful action of police authorities.

According to the Deputy-Ombudsman, Vaska Bajramovska – Mustafa, it has been concluded that the practice of political party revenge has continued after the implementation of the elections, especially in the sphere of education.  Furthermore, there are many reports for violation of labor rights. Up to 60% of these reports referred to arranged party competitions, inadequate job allocation due to party affiliation, as well as not renewing work contracts.

CIVIL – activities

CIVIL – Center for Freedom today at the the Kumanovo city square in the center of the city, is organizing a public event outdoors on the topic “Citizens observe, record, publish”, starting at 6.00 pm.

CIVIL’s team will project the recently awarded work of citizen journalists within the framework of the Civic Lenses project, and will be at the disposal of interested citizens to answer questions about the project and the conditions for participating in the monthly competition cycles of the project.

Chronicle

In regards to the pre-election activities of the candidates and their supporters, today’s chronicle of CIVIL-Media concludes that a dirty campaign with low blows is in sight.

Finally, the long announced “decade” duel between the leaders of SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE, Zoran Zaev and Hristijan Misckoski. According to comments on the social networks, both leaders came out as winners from the duel, while the ordinary citizens further continue to be losers! And even after almost two hours of debating, at the end all the questions remained unanswered…

We heard Mickoski denying that there is nepotism in his employment in the faculty where his father had worked – “I helped my father and I always will help him…I was selected there by a secret vote, my father had no influence”. We just didn’t hear whether Mickovski helped his father for free, just like he helped Nikola Gruevski “pro-bono”…

Mickoski did not pass up the chance to “strike low” by insulting Prime Minister Zaev that his stealing is inherited and in the genes from his father, who had been stealing electricity. To this, Zaev replied – “My father was accused and proven innocent at court”!

All in all, obviously a political campaign with very low blows is awaiting us.

D.T.