Lukarevska says focus should be on doing our homework, neither time nor place for referendum
Skopje, 4 August 2022 (MIA) – North Macedonia held the first intergovernmental conference and is now in the screening process, and we should fully focus on doing our homework, make appropriate reforms, see where we need to improve, and do even better where we did good, said Public Revenue Office director and SDSM vice-president Sanja Lukarevska, adding that now is neither the time nor the place for a referendum.
“We don’t know the referendum question. The red lines were clearly set and there were 68 votes in favor in the Parliament. We have the Macedonian language and identity, history is outside the negotiation process. What question should we ask? Whether we want to join the European Union? We must all move forward in this process,” Lukarevska told Kanal 5 TV.
As regards constitutional amendments as a condition to continue the negotiations after the completion of the screening process, Lukarevska pointed out that there’s one and only goal, i.e. to adapt the European agenda.
She expressed optimism that the constitutional amendments will pass in Parliament, because there are progressive forces there who know what this chance means.
“There are MPs in the opposition who should vote for the amendments, because the European perspective must not be hindered and this is a chance that must not be missed,” said Lukarevska, adding that this was not the time for blockades.
Regarding possible early parliamentary elections, which the opposition insists on, Lukarevska stressed that parties of the ruling coalition have reiterated the position that elections will be held in the regular term in 2024.
