Skopje, 17 October 2024 (MIA) – Minister for Public Administration Goran Minchev says he believes the law on equal representation shouldn’t be rushed, because a long-term and applicable legislation is needed. The bill should be discussed at a public debate with experts involved and send to the Venice Commission for an opinion before it is passed, according to him.

“In this society, anyone can draft a law and who’ll write the law is not the most important question. What’s very important is that the government coalition has a capacity for political dialogue to come up with a legislation, which wouldn’t be possibly brought before a court. This means we shouldn’t hurry with this legislation; we should have a public debate with experts, primarily constitutional law experts,” Minchev said at a today’s debate in the government on the economy, finances and public administration.

Equal representation, he noted, is a constitutional category, which means we should prepare a bill after a serious debate before it is sent to the Venice Commission in order to secure a legislation that is long-term and applicable. 

“I hope the government will prepare the legislation, but once again I stress that we shouldn’t hurry because ethnic community members will continue to be hired according to the existing laws after the Constitutional Court had rescinded the provisions,” said Minchev. 

He urged that ethnic origin shouldn’t be put in relation with the merit system.

According to the Minister, ethnic origin is not the only reason for the poor ratings of a part of the public administration. Hirings of party members in the administration, he admitted, is also to blame for it. 

MIA file photo