Parliament adopts third draft amendment of the Constitution

Opposition MPs said the authorities have no mandate for the constitutional revision, which is not adopted by consensus, with only Greece benefiting from them. On the other hand, the ruling majority said Macedonia is benefiting from the agreement, the country’s statehood and national identity is enhanced, whereas the road to EU and NATO is cleared.

MPs have started the debate on the final, XXXVIth amendment, which refers to the emigrants, with “the Republic protecting the rights and interests of its nationals residing or staying abroad, enhancing their ties with the homeland without interfering in the sovereign rights of other countries and their domestic affairs.”

MPs endorsed Sunday the XXXIIIth and XXXIVth amendments. The first relates to the replacement of words “Republic of Macedonia” with “Republic of North Macedonia” and word “Macedonia” with “North Macedonia”, except in Article 36, which has a historic aspect and refers to “the special social rights of World War II fighters and all national-liberation wars of Macedonia.” The second amendment replaces words “ASNOM decisions” in the Constitution’s Preamble with words “Proclamation of the First ASNOM Assembly” and adds the Ohrid Framework Agreement.