Xhaferi: Zekiri’s shouting and rude behaviour interrupted last night’s parliament session
North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi claims he has adjourned last night’s session because of ‘heckling and rude behavior’ by a SDSM MP.
According to Speaker Xhaferi, MP Muhamed Zekiri shouted out that time was running out and that the motion on stripping ex-speaker and current VMRO-DPMNE MP Trajko Veljanoski of his immunity should be put up for vote.
Speaking at a news conference on Monday, Xhaferi, amongst other things, responded to accusations by SDSM and the Alliance of the Albanians party, calling his move to interrupt the session ‘incomprehensible’.
Earlier in the day, Zijadin Sela, Alliance of the Albanians leader, called for Xhaferi’s resignation for being uncapable of performing the job of a parliament speaker. Moreover, Sela demanded early parliamentary polls after accusing the former coalition partners VMRO-DPMNE and DUI of ‘acting out a scenario.’
“I adhere to the constitutional principles in line with my duty… As long as I’m the Speaker, no one and nothing will usurp the assembly,” Xhaferi stressed.
According to him, the blame for the current deadlock is detected in the Committee on Rules of Procedures and Mandatory-Immunity Issues, which had failed to pass a draft-decision by which MPs would act.
Even though MP Veljanoski’s hasn’t been stripped of his immunity, the court can resume the procedure, Speaker Xhaferi claims.
Last week, former Parliament Speaker Veljanoski was taken into custody for his alleged involvement regarding the 2017 Parliament storming.