Still Unknown whether PPO Law will Get Two-thirds Majority Support

The Government’s draft text of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) law entered on Tuesday a procedure in the European Affairs Committee. However, it is still unknown whether there is a two-thirds majority. According to the ruling structure, the text will form a strong Office for Prosecution of Organised Crime and Corruption. The issue of the materials being turned from evidence to indications has been made for votes, but there will be no problems with cases. SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said there was no hidden amnesty in the text. He added that VMRO-DPMNE’s leadership and MPs from Hristijan Mickoski’s party were pressuring other MPs into not supporting the law. Two amendments have been filed to the text. Alliance for Albanians MP Syrija Rushidi considers that materials from the former Special Prosecutor’s Office should continue to be used as evidence, whereas Panco Minov believes the opposite should be the case, that is, that they should be used neither as evidence nor as indications. The amendments will be debated on the second, final, day of the Committee debate. Afterwards, the text will be sent to a plenary session. Without support from the three Alliance for Albanians and two BESA MPs, the ruling party will have to find help from new opposition representatives in Parliament.