Deputy PM Ljupcho Nikolovski, who is in charge of fight against corruption and crime, sustainable development and human resources stated Wednesday that a working group is expected to be set up this week tasked to amend the Law on Prevention of Corruption proposed by the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption (SCPC), for which the Minister of Justice Bojan Marichikj is already in charge and the long-awaited anti-corruption strategy will be presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Political System on Thursday.
Nikolovski speaking during a press conference organized by the Customs Administration on seizure of illegal tobacco, reiterated that the fight against corruption will be uncompromising and that the laws will apply equally to all and in this regard, he stressed, the activities are strengthened.
He also added the new premises of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption will be located in the building of the Office for General and Common Affairs in accordance with government decision. Moreover, the tender for the software of the SCPC will be announced soon for procurement of the necessary equipment.
“As a new generation of politicians, we will do everything to show and prove that we will work committedly and responsibly in the fight against corruption and that we will pursue policies in that direction. The anti-corruption strategy is being adopted, the Law on Fight against Corruption is being changed and we are working on the interoperability of the institutions,” Nikolovski noted.
According to him, there will be no compromise in fight against the gray economy, against everything that is illegal and acquired in a criminal way.
“I can give a guarantee to what we promised – inclusion of all 32 institutions, interconnectivity and interoperability. The fight against corruption and crime is government’s top priorities and 2021 will be a year of zero tolerance for corruption, Nikolovski said.
He said that the he met with members of SCPC and we discussed the weaknesses of the new Law on Prevention of Corruption from 2019. He also added a working group is expected to be set up this week tasked to amend the Law on Prevention of Corruption aimed at removing all the weaknesses and problems but also to have efficient procedures and results and to restore the trust of the citizens. The government tasked Justice Minister Bojan Marichikj to set up a working group that will work on amendments to the Law on Prevention of Corruption and to communicate with SCPC, NGOs, the civic platform for the fight against corruption. We also received a project through the Council of Europe on the law on the origin of assets. This shows cooperation and connection of the institutions, especially the regulatory, independent bodies, the SCPC and the Audit Office,” Nikolovski said.
Regarding the anti-corruption strategy, he pointed out that the debate and adoption were blocked not because of him or the government, but because of the blockades in the parliament, new parliament was not constituted, the opposition did not want elections to be held and caretaker government lasted for long.
