Macedonian opposition interrupts contacts with power

The VMRO DPMNE's leading bodies this week, according to its chairman, Hristija Mickoski, have decided to cut off any contact with the government, except those dealing with parliamentary elections in the autumn.

There will be no communication with the government. This week we've had a session of the party's Executive Committee and we've made a unanimous decision since VMRO- DPMNE to interrupt all official communications at the bilatheral level with representatives from the government. There is only one thing, it is to sit down and agree on elections, when elections are held, how the elections will be held, in what way with a technical government, without a technical government, so we'll talk only about what is related to the” elections, Mickoski has declared.

V decision The MRO DPMNE comes at a time when the ruling parties are seeking opposition support for the adoption of constitutional changes, needed to continue the process of membership in the European Union.

The changes should be made for the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the preamble of the constitution as an official people, as provided with what is known as the “French proposal” for resolving disputes with Bulgaria about Macedonian identity and language and historical aspects.

Foreign Affairs Minister Bujar Osmani said Sunday that the V decision MRO DPMNE testifies, according to him that the opposition “neither wishes nor intends to face any challenge that concerns the state, but that the primary goal is to take power”.

Osmani said the ruling parties have met all opposition demands, but “over V MRO-DPMNE, the importance is just authority and power”.

“expects to work with this party until the last day. But if this does not bear fruit, we should work parallel to MPs who do not want to remain hostage to ambitions and want to support the European perspective of the state”, Osmani has said.

Despite failing to secure two-thirds of the vote in the Assembly, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski announced on Friday that changes of constitutions would soon be submitted for approval in the Assembly.

Prime Minister Kovacevski has rejected the opposition's call for elections, suggesting that the upcoming elections will be fair in 2024.

Macedonian opposition does not give support with argument that “Sofia will continue with other provisions, even if the Bulgarian minority becomes part of the preamble of the Macedonian Constitution”.

The VMRO DPMNE has said it will support the changes only if they enter into force in parallel with Northern Macedonia's EU membership, but this requirement has also been rejected by Brussels with the argument that the negotiating framework cannot be changed.

The European Union in some cases has indicated that changes should be adopted, as they do not endanger Macedonian language or identity, as the Macedonian opposition claims.