The number of eighty MPs in parliament can only increase
The draft law on selective amnesty that was adopted yesterday in the parliament probably cemented the two-thirds support for the constitutional changes needed to ratify the name agreement with Greece. The independent parliamentary group that emerged after the exclusion of MPs from VMRO-DPMNE directly participated in the preparation of the text that fulfilled the request for reconciliation, with which three of their members are given an opportunity to seek and receive amnesty themselves.
“Our final position will be known after the end of the amendment procedure,” the independent parliamentary group made an official statement.
However, unofficially they admit that it is really hard to expect a turn in the final phase of the constitutional changes vote, which parliamentary speaker Talat Xhaferi scheduled on January 15th.
“Our amendments are being accepted,” said the independent group.
It seems that the obstacles in the communication are being removed step-by-step that emerged after the arrest of Saso Mijalkov, whom VMRO-DPMNE expelled from the party because of his alleged role in influencing MPs to vote ‘in favor’ of the constitutional changes. The UBK’s ex-director was labeled as close, even as a relative, with some of the escaped MPs, so it was unclear in which context his transfer from the Marriott hotel to Shutka could have gone. Also, former Health Minister Nikola Todorov, who was put in a similar situation as Mijalkov, again found himself in the notebook of the services that filed another criminal charge for misconduct.
“I think it becomes clear that we are not connected with either Mijalkov or Todorov,” the independent parliamentary group said.
Although the leader of DUI Ali Ahmeti recently felt anxiety and fear that, due to carelessness of the institutions, it may come to a standstill in the constitutional changes, appealing to the state services to be cautious, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia expects the number of supporters of the agreement in Parliament to increase.
“Those eight MPs first voted for continuing the process of constitutional changes, and then they came in with their own amendments, so we cannot say that they would give their votes ‘in favor’ without delay and at any given time. But we believe that these eight MPs and the other opposition MPs realize the importance of the process and put the interests of the country above their own. We hope that the figure of 80 MPs will be increased,” says MP Kostadin Kostadinov, who recently took over the role of SDSM spokesperson.
Ferid Muhic – the only MP from the government, who changed his mind at the last minute and voted “in favor”, although he was previously “against”, only smiled yesterday when our reporters asked him if he was going to give his support for the Prespa Agreement.
“Let’s remind ourselves that this is a question that would not be asked,” Muhic replied.
VMRO-DPMNE once again asked the government to unequivocally respect the will of the people expressed in the referendum on September 30th and to accept the results that have shown insufficient support for the agreement. Therefore, the government should give up the next stages in parliament to change the constitutional name of the country. Because they know that it will not happen, and they admit it is a done deal.
“Former MPs from VMRO-DPMNE did not cross over to the other side because they recognized the values of the process at the last moment, but because they had promises and expectations. As for our lawmakers, we believe that none of them will betray the party’s position, which they have accepted, and the position is that we are still against the agreement,” the ‘White Palace’ pointed out.
Unofficially, there are “two or three names of MPs” that could change their direction, but everything will be known when the final vote is finalized. When there was “betrayal” for the first time, VMRO-DPMNE excluded and dismissed dozens of MPs and officials. Recently there is a noticeably milder rhetoric that the party’s leadership uses when it comes to the name agreement.
The Constitutional Court said “no” to Todor Petrov
At yesterday’s session, by majority vote the Constitutional Court rejected the two initiatives submitted to the parliamentary decision to revise the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia from October 19, 2018.
These initiatives, according to the Court, were rejected because the decision is not a regulation and is not subject to a constitutional-judicial assessment. The initiators for assessing the constitutionality and legality of the decision are the World Macedonian Congress and a natural person from Sveti Nikole.
– With the decision to start the revision of the Constitution, there is a flagrant violation of the Constitution and the laws of the state of Macedonia and of international law, said the World Macedonian Congress, among other things.
Goran Adamovski