Abolition
While there is silence from the Office of President Gjorge Ivanov in regards to the received requests for abolition of those convicted for the “April 27” case, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev claims that he has neither a legal possibility, nor enough time to be giving any amnesty or abolition.
Zaev refers to the latest legislative changes for abolition, to the bans for bringing such decisions in a pre-election period as well as to the deadlines according to which Ivanov’s mandate will expire before the legal ban ends for amnesty and abolitions. According to them, article 11 does not exist.
Attack
This morning at 2.53 am, an attempt for violent entry in the “Goce Delcev” barracks in Skopje was prevented. The soldier who was on duty, acting upon the prescribed procedures, had warned the person verbally several times, but after there had been no response from the person, the guard had fired two warning shots in the air.
The military police, the MOI and a public prosecutor have been to the scene. All relevant information and evidence about the event have been given to the competent bodies working on clearing the case.
Economy
The report of the IMF published today, lists the challenges the economies face starting from the demographic changes, the rapid changes in technology and the increased integration among the economies around the world.
The International Monetary Fund in its report states that many countries with advanced economies or emerging economies are facing pressure on the health care and pension system due to the aging of the population. On the other hand, many developing countries need to work on creating jobs and upgrading the infrastructure.
Research
Reactor – Research in action promoted its new report from the research on the topic “Gender based discrimination and workers’ rights in North Macedonia”.
Results from the research show that women are much more exposed to gender based discrimination in the workplace than men.
The findings of the study indicate that very few cases of gender based discrimination against women on the labour market are reported to the competent institutions and mechanisms available for prevention and protection against discrimination. The institutions responsible for dealing with gender based discrimination in the workplace, on the other hand, do not have data on how widespread it is. According to the interviewed respondents, gender based discrimination is not reported due to lack of knowledge on where to turn to, distrust in the institutions, as well as the long and expensive processes for proving discrimination against the victims.
“Singers” Zaev and Mickoski
SDSM leader and Prime Minister, Zoran Zaev, at last night’s rally in Tetovo, said that Gordana Siljanovska Davkova has started following the steps of Hristijan Mickoski, and that he is following those of Nikola Gruevski.
“There’s a song called ‘Strangers in the night’, they are totally lost like strangers in the night. That is why Stevo Pendarovski is going to win…”, said Zaev in Tetovo.
Hristijan Mickoski, VMRO-DPMNE, who a few days ago (didn’t) became famous by singing at rallies, and at a rally several months ago even fell to his knees, does not want to miss this chance, so he commented that it’s time for Zaev to learn ‘Wind of change’ instead of singing ‘Stranger in the night’ at rallies, because of everything bad they have done to Macedonia, and that this song will be sang to him by the people on April 21 and May 5 this year.
Presidential candidates
Presidential candidate, Blerim Reka, was in Brvenica accompanied by the leader of the Alliance for Albanians, Ziadin Sela and the leader of the Besa movement, Bilal Kasami.
“The time has come for an Albanian president, because the Albanians are also citizens of this country. In order for us to be able to live the concept of one Republic for all, there should be real equality, and not just a formal one for all the citizens of this country. Macedonia as a multi-ethnic society cannot function as a mono-ethnic country. That is why, on April 21st your voice is a voice of change, a voice against corruption and against injustice”, said Reka in Brvenica.
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova has become worried about the doctors after reading a text of the political party “Levica”, according to which in the last three months as much as 83 doctors have requested a license from the Doctor’s Chamber to work abroad.
“This exodus of the health care workers has to be prevented urgently, because there will be no doctors to treat the citizens, which is unacceptable for a country that talks about European standards”, she added.
Stevo Pendarovski, remained in the shadow of the Prime Minister’s statement, promising the same things according to his foreseen election policy.
SPO
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev today had much softer standpoints in regards to the negotiations on the SPO, which are getting closer to the ones of the opposition. While Minister Renata Deskoska accused until now that the opposition is seeking a new amnesty by limiting or removing the bombs from the evidence materials, Zaev today claims that the audio materials can only be indications and cannot serve as evidence.
“Let’s not create films and fantastic expectations” – this is the latest request of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, in relation to the negotiations on the Special Public Prosecutor’s Office, which according to him are still in progress. Zaev justifies this with the fact that the citizens have not given him a two-thirds majority at the parliamentary elections, hence, what kind of decision will be made for the SPO will be determined according to that majority.
Elections
Following yesterday’s successful conference “Like elections – like future”, organized by CIVIL, today on the website civilmedia.mk you can find the speeches of all the speakers who gave their contribution at this event dedicated to the upcoming presidential elections.
Let’s remind, on the various aspects of the election process spoke: the President of CIVIL Xhabir Deralla, the President of the SEC, Oliver Derkoski, the President of the SCPC, Biljana Ivanovska, Deputy Minister of Administration, Aleksandar Bajdevski, State Advisor at the Ombudsman, Zoran Bilbilovski, the Editor of “Sloboden Pecat” (Free press), Branko Geroski, Political Analyst, Saso Ordanoski and the President of Inkluziva, Blagica Dimitrovska.
Protest Day
The marking of Protest Day this year as well is organized by CIVIL and a group of activists as continuation to the joint initiative in cooperation of photographer Aleksandar Kondov. With projections of photographs and videos, music and speeches, the event will begin at 2.00 pm at the Monument of fallen fighters 1991-1992, in front of café “Garson”.
Citizens who will be present will have the opportunity to remind themselves of the protests in the period 2014-2016, starting from the student protests, the movement I Protest/Protestoj, up to the Colourful Revolution.
CIVIL will submit an initiative to the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia to proclaim April 12 as Protest Day in honour of the progressive, pro-democratic values for which a huge number of citizens in the country advocate for.
B. Jordanovska
