Skopje, 25 July 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski responded Thursday to SDSM leader Venko Filipche’s statement calling for the Government to adopt the Criminal Code which the previous Government drafted, stressing that a new Criminal Code will be adopted, but in line with European standards and not someone’s needs.

Quizzed about Filipche’s statement, Mickoski said he isn’t opposed to a new Criminal Code, but asked what will be done with the cases for which the statute of limitations has expired.

“They say they’ve drafted a new Criminal Code, but what will we do with the cases for which the statute of limitations expired and for which the citizens are paying compensation, since there are cases with an expired statute of limitations and on the basis of that they are seeking compensation and are being paid from the state budget. These are millions of euros, these are your money. Perhaps they [SDSM] should reach into their own pockets and sell some of their property and return funds to the budget. A first-year law student knows that everyone who will be processed will use this law, which was applicable at the time the crime was committed. So, they adopted a law to pardon their own crimes and of those politicians, who needed it, so the statute of limitations expires on their cases, and now they want a new Criminal Code,” Mickoski said.

The PM said the Government has no issue adopting a new Criminal Code, but, he said, it will be in line with European laws and not in line with someone’s needs.

He stressed that the Ministry of Justice doesn’t have such a draft, despite Filipche’s statement.