SKOPJE – The parliamentary plenary session on the Government’s proposal for constitutional changes which transpired from the Agreement with Greece has begun. The Government’s proposal for constitutional changes was presented by Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.
MPs from VMRO-DPMNE have been present at the session, including former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who asked for today’s hearing of the SPO’s “TNT” case be postponed, could attend the session. The session began with a delay due to the coordination of VMRO-DPMNE’s parliamentary group.
Before the session, MP Ilija Dimovski from VMRO-DPMNE asked for the proposal for constitutional changes to be removed from the agenda because, as he says, Parliament does not have the electoral legitimacy to decide on these changes.
“Not one MP from this Parliament made a promise to change the Constitution,” said Dimovski.
Dimovski’s proposal was rejected with 39 votes “for” and 67 “against”.
In front of Parliament, a dozen citizens organized by the Citizens’ Association “Prerodba” held a protest, at which they announced protests and blockades in front of Parliament every day at 10 o’clock.
“We have made divisions amongst ourselves, politically, and we have begun hating each other, we almost killed each other in front of everyone on the 27 April, and now here is a chance to reconcile and forgive one another”, said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev in the Parliament.
“Let us reach across the isle. I am sending an appeal for reconciliation. I know that this comes with a price, but politicians come and go, and the country’s future is most important. There is no future for our country if we do not forgive each other. I call upon the MPs to think and to look towards the future, whether they would like to see a European Macedonia or isolation, poverty, and instability” said Zaev during the plenary session.