site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM Kovachevski: "Proposed Constitutional Amendment Ours, Backed by EU, US"

The European path must be followed for the sake of North Macedonia itself, for which European integration means development, North Macedonia's Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told the country's Parliament here on Friday, wishing a successful and fruitful debate on the constitutional amendments, which are the only item on the agenda in the meeting of the country's Legislature.

The sitting started an hour late and the agenda was adopted with 70 votes in favour and 47 against, with no motions to amend or add to the agenda. 

The proposal to change the constitution was submitted by the Government of North Macedonia, and Kovachevski stressed to the MPs that the proposal to change and amend the constitution was not under anyone's dictate, but "a Macedonian proposal supported by the EU and the US with one goal - EU integration by 2030".   

Kovahevski pointed out that the proposed changes in the basic law refer only to the addition of some peoples in the Preamble and Article 49 and Article 78 of the Constitution, which list the Bulgarian and the other several peoples that are added.

"Parts of peoples are added, but the primary constitutionality of the Macedonian people is unequivocally pointed out, as well as the objective uniqueness and the uniqueness of the Macedonian people in relation to other peoples, and in this context also from the Bulgarian people. Is it reasonable to believe that adding other nations endangers the Macedonian people? The changes in the constitution do not threaten the Macedonian identity", Kovachevski said.

He was applauded by MPs from the ruling coalition and the Albanian bloc, and during his speech some of the VMRO-DPMNE MPs left the plenary.

The adoption of Constitutional amendments takes place in three phases, two of which require a majority of 80 MPs out of the 120 members of Parliament. The motion on the need to change the Constitution, which is on the agenda of this parliamentary sitting, must also be voted on by 80 MPs. The debate could last up to 10 days, after which the vote will be scheduled. The opposition in Skopje refuses to support constitutional changes "under a Bulgarian dictate" and it remains to be seen if the necessary two-thirds majority will be found in Parliament in this first phase of amending the country's basic law.