Skopje, 17 October 2022 (MIA) – Lawmakers unanimously supported Monday the amendments to the Law on Associations and Foundations submitted by the opposition. VMRO-DPMNE MP Rashela Mizrahi said the law changes should put an end to the opening of associations and foundations which programmes, goals and activities focus on violent toppling of the country’s constitutional order, stimulate military aggression and fuel national, racial, religious hatred or other intolerance, genocide, extermination, spreading or supporting, instigating or approving fascism, Nazism, national-socialism and the Third Reich, as well as actions related to terrorism or activities that go against the Constitution. “Over the past seven months we have witnessed the opening of so-called culture clubs named after controversial figures, Nazis and fascists. This law should put an end to the opening of such associations and foundations. The law proposes that an organization cannot be titled using names, surnames, nicknames, pseudonyms, abbreviations or initials of persons who on any grounds, way or form had been linked to racial, religious, national, ethnic or other intolerance, hatred, genocide, extermination, spreading or supporting fascism, Nazism, natonal-socialism and the Third Reich,” said Mizrahi. According to the text, organizations, associations, foundations, unions and other forms of organizations registered according to the provisions of the Law on Associations and Foundations are obligated to align their name or title, goals and activities with the changes within three months from their entry into force. “Failing to do so will result in their deleting from the Central Register, as decided by the Minister of Justice within four months from the law’s entry into force,” reads the elaboration of the amendments. MPs also unanimously adopted the expedited procedure for amendments to the Law on Political Parties, submitted by lawmakers of the ruling majority. “Let’s be clear, we have nothing against any association but we must stand in defense of our foundations – the anti-fascist values. We propose that programmes of political parties cannot promote fueling hatred, ethnic or any other intolerance, spreading fascism or Nazism,” said SDSM whip Jovan Mitreski in the law’s elaboration.