Macedonia Press Review – January 21, 2013

DNEVNIK
If the parliament approves the new draft, a former Macedonian Prime Minister will in the future have much larger security at disposal. He will have the right to employ six people as security personnel as well as a state vehicle and a driver. The draft, filed by two legislators from the ruling VMRO DPMNE is aimed, as they say to send a message to the criminals that the most exposed man in the fight against corruption and crime will be protected even after he steps down. Currently, a former Prime Minister has right to such security but only one year after his stepping down.

UTRINSKI VESNIK
The daily analyzes whether there is a plan for overcoming the political crisis in the country that started last month with the opposition boycott of parliament. The daily speculates of a concrete proposal that involves postponing of the local elections from March to June when a parallel general election would be held to satisfy opposition demands. In exchange the opposition would return in parliament and end roadblocks and protests. The daily says that hopes of this rose after the US ambassador Paul Wohlers said that the crisis could be resolved within the institutions. A political crisis in the country has escalated on December 24, when government parties passed a budget for 2013 in minutes after opposition MPs and journalists were kicked out of the parliament.

Balkan Insight has not verified the reports and cannot vouch for their accuracy.