In an interview with Radio Free Europe, BESA leader Bilall Kasami says his party’s MPs will not support the constitutional changes until the term “Albanian language” replaces the so-called 20% wording. As he adds, it’s a joint stand of the opposition from the ethnic Albanian bloc that the replacement needs to be made. “Until the Government sees no interests to ...

Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski hasn’t given an exact answer as to whether there are opposition MPs that will support the constitutional changes. “That will be shown when it needs to be shown,” he said on Saturday. According to Spasovski, there is no deadline for completing the process. As he added, the end of November is the deadline when, basically, the ...

At the session for parliamentary questions, held on Tuesday, VMRO-DPMNE MP Dafina Stojanoska alleged that Deputy PM Bojan Maricic had blown her a kiss and winked at her. The Parliamentary Group of VMRO-DPMNE called on the Deputy PM to resign. However, Maricic denied the allegations. “Citizens deserve dignified behaviour by those they elected, not shameful moves for cheap and party ...

Regarding the Pardon Draft-Law, Justice Minister Krenar Lloga said on Thursday he would show photos of the Idrizovo prison conditions to MPs before the vote. Lloga expects support from all MPs. However, though the document still hasn’t been submitted to parliament SDSM has announced an amendment because Haki Aziri and Fejzi Aziri, convicted to nine and 15 years in prison ...

Court administration members took to the streets on Thursday. They again said they demanded a salary increase of 78% and a rise of 35% with regards to pay supplements. “If our salary increases by 78%, none of us will reach the average salary level, that is, we will just get closer to it,” it was pointed out. Protesters also warned ...

Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg and EU and Constitution Minister Karoline Edtstadler want to promote swifter EU integration of the Western Balkan countries. To that end, in a letter and non-paper to Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi, they present concrete proposals. According to the Austrian ...

On Thursday, Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska said she was very glad that VMRO- DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski had been occupied with her over the past years. “He should continue doing so because in an attempt to increase his rating, he’s obviously working on improving mine as well,” she pointed out. Regarding the matter of whether she and ex-PM Nikola Gruevski ...

In an interview with Telma’s Utrinska (Morning) show, French Ambassador Cyrille Baumgartner says that it’s up to North Macedonia to assume obligations and continue the path to EU membership. In his view, enlargement by 2030 is possible, but time shouldn’t be wasted on that road. Regarding the Criminal Code changes, he notes that the situation is closely being followed. What’s ...

Regarding the Pardon Draft-Law, the opposition has announced it will be blocking the adoption in Parliament by filing amendments. The process to file amendments is enabled by the fact that the shortened procedure will be used in Parliament, not the so-called EU flag one. On Wednesday, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said opposition MPs would submit numerous amendments in order to ...

Chief Public Prosecutor Ljubomir Joveski said on Wednesday that Parliament had adopted the Criminal Code changes in a legal procedure, adding that his Office had the duty to apply them. Though the Government didn’t consult the Office, Joveski’s stand is that his institution’s stand is irrelevant because the adoption of the changes was a will of MPs. According to him, ...