Skopje, 21 May 2026 (MIA) - The actions of Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi are fully in line with the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia and within his constitutional and procedural authorizations, said the Speaker's Office in a press release Thursday following allegations made by SDSM leader Venko Filipche that Gashi violated the Rules of Procedure by scheduling a session of Parliament’s Financing and Budget Committee on Thursday.

“On May 18, 2026, based on Article 126 paragraph 2 of the Rules of Procedure, the Chairwoman of the Financing and Budget Committee convened the 64th session of the Committee for May 19, 2026, starting at 11:30 a.m. The session began on May 19, 2026, and after the agenda was determined, it was interrupted. Considering the deadlines set in Article 176 paragraph 2 and Article 181 paragraph 1 of the Rules of Procedure, more than one-third of the members of the Committee, in accordance with Article 126 paragraph 2, on May 20, 2026, submitted a request to the Chairwoman of the Committee for continuation of the session within the deadlines established by the Rules of Procedure, but the continuation of the session was not convened. Because of this, on May 20, 2026, a group of MPs submitted a request to the Speaker of Parliament to convene the continuation of the 64th session of the Financing and Budget Committee, due to the Chairwoman’s failure to act upon the submitted request for continuation of the session,” the Speaker's Office said.

According to the Speaker's Office, in order to hold the session within the deadlines set by the Rules of Procedure, the Speaker convened the first continuation of the 64th session of the Committee on May 21.

“Therefore, this is an action that does not represent political will or arbitrary intervention but is exclusively the application of clearly established procedural provisions, aimed at ensuring the functionality of Parliament and respecting the deadlines provided in parliamentary procedure. We believe that Parliament must not be subject to daily political constructions and unfounded accusations whose sole purpose is to create political tension and media confrontation,” the Speaker’s Office said.

The press release adds that Speaker Gashi remains committed to the principles of institutionalism, legal certainty, and consistent application of the Rules of Procedure, without selectivity and without political calculations. 

Earlier on Thursday, SDSM leader Venko Filipche said charges and a no-confidence motion would be filed against Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi for breaking the Rules of Procedures.

“He scheduled a meeting of the Financing and Budget Committee, chaired by SDSM MP Sanja Lukarevska. Although she is present, he tasked another lawmaker to chair the meeting, which is against the Rules of Procedures. Having in mind that it has become customary, we will file charges and a no confidence motion against the speaker,” announced Filipche.

MIA file photo