Skopje, 7 June 2023 (MIA) — VMRO-DPMNE's executive committee at a session earlier on Wednesday authorized the party leader Hristijan Mickoski not to agree to constitutional changes "under dictation," the party's vice-president Timcho Mucunski told a press conference ahead of Mickoski's meeting with SDSM leader and Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski.

The two leaders were to discuss the country's EU accession conditional on the inclusion of the Bulgarian community amid the communities listed in Preamble to the Constitution.

"There cannot be any constitutional amendments under dictation. Adopting constitutional amendments when the national identity of the Macedonian people is threatened and our language, history and culture are denied is not a step forward.

"VMRO-DPMNE's executive committee, speaking on behalf of a vast majority of citizens, demands a fair chance, the same as other countries have when joining the EU," Mucunski said.

In response to a reporter's question on what would happen if Parliament did not pass the constitutional changes, Mucunski said it was 'obvious' there was no parliamentary majority to adopt the changes.

Describing the current political situation as a 'capital failure' due to the ruling coalition's 'permissive' foreign policy, he said the next step was a snap election.

He added that Mickoski would discuss the snap election idea with PM Kovachevski.

The meeting between the two leaders began at 11 am. mr/