PPO Law: First Meeting Fails

Minister of Justice Renata Deskoska’s first meeting with all groups in Parliament about the Public Prosecutor’s Office law has failed. VMRO-DPMNE left Friday’s meeting, making two demands: a public debate on the document and participation of Public Prosecutor Ljubomir Joveski. The remarks about the law, in writing, previously announced by the party’s leader, Hristijan Mickoski, will be filed once the conditions are fulfilled. Deskoska accepted only the demand for a public debate. Joveski will be invited to the public debate in Parliament. In her view, the issue of the Public Prosecutor’s presence was just an excuse for VMRO-DPMNE to leave. Joveski, too, considers that he shouldn’t be part of the political talks. He said he should be part only of the debate. Joveski believes the text of the document is good. According to Deskoska, the SDSM and DUI groups agree with the final version of the text, while the group of eight independent MPs, too, has given positive signals. Upon a request from the opposition, the meeting was attended also by US Embassy and EU Delegation representatives, as well as by members of anti-corruption CSOs.The following day, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev demanded for the document to etner a procedure in Parliament on Tuesday. Also, he said he hoped he would get a two-thirds majority. Zaev insisted on a vote on the issue before the dissolution of Parliament. According to Mickoski, SDSM is “making a circus out of the negotiations”. Though both leaders consider that there is a good basis for talks, the red lines remain.