Skopje, 17 August 2023 (MIA) – Eighty MPs are needed for a vote for a European North Macedonia, the Government needs 61 MPs to be able to fully decide and work until the election of the next Government. A two-third majority in Parliament for the constitutional amendments is an imperative for every citizen in the country, said Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski on Thursday when asked why he thinks elections are not the solution while lacking the two-third majority necessary for the constitutional amendments. 

“You see that one of the key topics are the living standard, social protection, democratic rule. These are the three elements according to which the EU is the best in the world, on the level of the United States, and we, as a country, strive to fulfill these standards. So, it is not the Government that needs a two-third majority or 80 MPs, they are necessary for the citizens of the country. When the process began there were a lot of comments creating hysteria that Macedonia would be ‘Bulgarized’, that we would lose our language, we would be assimilated. None of that has happened. Now, almost a year later, we have a clear, guaranteed Macedonian language in the EU, affirmed through the Frontex Agreement, the Macedonian identity is becoming a part of the mosaic of EU identities, the entire EU acquis is already being translated into Macedonian. There is no greater affirmation of the language and identity of a country, than the recognition from the largest union in Europe,” said Kovachevski.

The Prime Minister added that the upcoming debate on the constitutional amendments in Parliament will show the citizens that this is a part of the Euro-integration process.

“The ten-day debate in Parliament is a good opportunity for the citizens to once again be assured that this is a process for the realization of the second strategic goal of the country, after NATO membership, and that the sooner we complete this process, the sooner we will become an EU member state. For the first time our country isn’t vetoed from abroad, but could be vetoed from inside,” said Kovachevski in answer to a journalist’s question.

Kovachevski criticized VMRO-DPMNE for failing to explain why they don’t support the amendments considering, he said, they are not being done under Bulgarian dictate, because the EU and the US have clearly pointed out that the amendments are a part of the Negotiating Framework.

“At one point they were saying they would change the negotiating framework. They aren’t saying that anymore because representatives from the EU and the US said that the Negotiating Framework was approved by all EU member states and is the best compromise between the 27 EU member states and our country. And now when this is not an option, a single word is being used – ‘dictate’, while a press release exists from the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs which says, yes, this is the Negotiating Framework as part of which everyone should fulfill their tasks,” said the PM.

Regarding Afrim Gashi, Bilal Kasami and Izet Mexhiti’s demands to discuss the Albanian language and corruption alongside the constitutional amendments, Kovachevski said that the MPs are free to propose whatever they want, but, he said, they should keep in mind why the amendments are being carried out.

“The constitutional amendments are part of a procedure where many proposals can be made. I haven’t seen the press conference. Other parties said things about corrections to the Constitution as well. But, the constitutional changes working group unanimously adopted a proposal over the country’s tasks from the Negotiating Framework. This is what the Government has been working on. The MPs are free to propose whatever they want. But, they should always keep in mind why a certain strategic process is being carried out. The goal of this strategic process is the continuation of the EU path,” said Kovachevski.