Skopje, 14 May 2023 (MIA) — Citizens do not need blockades in Parliament but modern highways, SDSM leader and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said ahead of his party's first public debate in a series titled "Results that Make a Difference" dedicated to energy security and green transition.

He told the press that he would not allow the proposed laws related to the Bechtel and Enka construction project to be blocked in Parliament, which, he said, had kept beeing blocked for two years.

"Given that Corridor 8 was put on the map of Trans-European corridors for the first time — until now only Corridor 10 was there — those laws will pass for the sake of faster and more efficient highway construction, for which geotechnical tests have already started," Kovachevski said.

"I am sure that lawmakers will do it through a democratic procedure," Kovachevski added, pointing out that the business comunity was supportive of the highway construction project.

Asked about his expectations of President Stevo Pendarovski's opinion of the laws, he said Pendarovski was a law professor and had experienced legal advisors as well.

"He will review the proposed laws and give us his final word in the end," Kovachevski said.

Regarding the use of the EU flag to fast track the procedure in Parliament, the prime minister said the government was in daily communication with the EU Delegation and the US Embassy in Skopje. mr/