Skopje, 29 September 2022 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE’s parliamentary group requested Thursday that Parliament hold an emergency session to discuss VMRO-DPMNE’s draft-law on energy, announced party whip Nikola Micevski, at a press conference. According to Micevski, the Government copied sections of the draft-measures proposed by VMRO-DPMNE. “What Kovachevski presented is not enough. From the measures he presented we heard that the educational institutions and the public health institutions will receive cheaper energy, however, accidentally or on purpose, he omitted the water and utility companies, which are struggling to maintain liquidity due to the high electricity prices, and as a result of this, households and businesses might be faced with larger bills,” said Micevski. He underscored that they are calling for complete, and not only partial acceptance of their proposal. “VMRO-DPMNE’s draft-law on energy covers water and utility companies which have huge electricity costs. If SDSM, the Government and Kovachevski really care, they should support our energy legislation,” said Micevski, adding that by doing so they will help the citizens avoid an increase in the price of services related to water supply. According to Micevski, Thursday’s Q&A session has been conditioned by the PM with four draft-laws, i.e., the one on energy proposed by the Government on Wednesday, which Micevski said is yet to enter Parliament, the legislation on oil and oil derivatives, which is also yet to arrive in Parliament, as well as on the state of crisis and EBRD borrowing. “Whether out of ignorance, confusion or just because he was in a rush to hold that press conference yesterday, the Prime Minister encroached on the powers of Parliament, i.e., the powers of Speaker Xhaferi. From what I can see today, since there is no new session scheduled before the parliamentary questions session, I believe that Talat Xhaferi managed to fight off the Government’s pressure, and maintain the procedurally guaranteed obligation of the MPs to hold a parliamentary questions session every last Thursday of the month because the Government has a lot to answer for, and we will seek additional answers,” said Micevski. When asked by MIA whether VMRO-DPMNE will support Levica’s referendum initiative, Micevski said they will wait for the initiative to enter Parliament before they form a position. ad/ba/