Dimovski: Census to be held in 2021, instead of next year

VMRO-DPMNE has serious remarks about the population census law and the concept about the upcoming census, VMRO-DPMNE MP Ilija Dimovski said, calling them “crucial” for the process to be conducted according to Eurostat standards.

“Only this kind of census can benefit everyone, instead of being an operation causing fear or joy amongst the citizens from losing or gaining certain rights,” Dimovski said, adding he would present the remarks to a team of the government at a meeting on the matter.

The census to be held in 2021, as envisaged according to Eurostat, instead of next year – as planned by the government – is one of the opposition’s key demands.

VMRO-DPMNE, Dimovski said, doesn’t rule out agreeing to having a census in 2020. “We can agree to that only if the key remarks are taken into account. Otherwise, the party is mulling the option to call for boycott of the census.”

The opposition demands the establishment of a body of experts in charge of the census. “The head of the statistical office, who is appointed by the party in power, cannot oversee the entire process.

“Also, it’s not enough the citizens to provide their unique master citizen number, the census must be conducted with relevant identification document, IDs or passports. It has to be determined who can provide data about people living abroad – it cannot be done by neighbors or friends. It has to be precisely defined who can be categorized as resident population according to Eurostat recommendations,” said Dimovski.