Skopje, 8 June 2023 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said Thursday in Kochani that their condition on possible vote for the constitutional amendments would be a government without DUI until the elections and the constitutional amendments become effective once the country becomes a member of the EU.

“It is important to conclude from yesterday’s leaders' meeting that at this moment the government does not have the necessary majority in the parliament for the constitutional amendments that it accepted a year ago without consulting the opposition, i.e. VMRO-DPMNE. When VMRO-DPMNE warned they ignored it and then when we offered a continuous solution they ignored that solution,” Mickoski added.

He reiterated that VMRO-DPMNE will not support a change to the Constitution under Bulgarian dictate.

“As a responsible political party and as responsible politicians, we are always ready to discuss when it comes to the future of our homeland. This was also discussed at the leaders’ meeting with Kovachevski. Kovachevski proposed at the meeting to give VMRO-DPMNE five of the ministries led by SDSM and in return for that, VMRO-DPMNE should give support to the constitutional amendments, to complete those amendments, to start the negotiations, and then to call elections,” Mickoski said.

He said that he replied that they accept the offer of VMRO-DPMNE to participate in the future government until the elections, but under certain conditions.

“The first condition is to finally free Macedonia from DUI. It does not need to be in the interim government. I welcome Bujar Osmani's move to accept it on behalf of DUI. When it comes to the constitutional amendments
When it comes to the constitutional amendments, let's say to accept the vote on them, but to delay the effect; in reality, the circumstances will not change, we will not have a change to the Constitution, those amendments will not be part of that constitution, until the moment Macedonia becomes a member state of the EU,” Mickoski said.

In this way, according to him, our identity is protected, and in this way, we say that there are no concessions that can harm our identity.

Concerning Bujar Osmani’s move, that they accept to leave the government, Mickoski said he welcomed, he said that he welcomes their position for realizing that it is time for them to be in opposition.

“It provides an opportunity for a real start of negotiations with the EU, and not for Macedonia to be held hostage by a small group of people who, apart from their personal interest, have nothing else as a priority. I hope they will not change their decision until the elections,” Mickoski said.

He also said that they did not discuss which five ministries are in question.