Skopje, 16 September 2024 (MIA) — Worth It coalition member and current Health Minister Arben Taravari told the press Monday that now was not the time to discuss the new Defenders Law.

"I don't know why this drama surrounding the Defenders Law. This is the seventh time it is being passed, after 2002, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, and 2015," Taravari said in response to a question if he would discuss this law within his coalition.

"I don't think now is the time to discuss such topics. This issue will not even be addressed now. It will not even be helpful. There is nothing tragic about it. Why all this drama about it? The opposition parties, especially the [ethnic] Albanian ones, have all voted for this kind of law six times, so I don't think it is the right moment to discuss it," Taravari said.

Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski reiterated his support for the country's defenders of 2001 and said it was up to the Parliamentary Committee on Social Policy, Demography and Youth chair Ilire Dauti to put the proposed Defenders Law before lawmakers for consideration. He also said he had not talked to the ruling coalition partners Worth It about giving their support to the law.

"No, we have not discussed this topic," Mickoski said. "We have voiced our position very clearly in the past. Our defenders have had, and will have, my support," Mickoski said.

The new Defenders Law, proposed by SDSM MP and former defense minister Slavjanka Petrovska, received the lawmakers support to be adopted in a fast-track procedure during the 14th session of Parliament. mr/