Skopje: Opposition Boycotts Parliament Coordination

They said they would report this to the international representatives in the country. The opposition parties argue that the conduct of the majority, led by the centre right VMRO DPMNE party, in effect suspends the functioning of the democratic system.

“The amendment which takes away the Parliament’s revision function over the reports of the State Audit Office and over the final report on the Macedonian budget was the final straw,” Cvetanka Ivanova, the parliamentary coordinator for the largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, SDSM told media.

Ivanova was referring to several amendments passed by the majority in parliament last week. She protested the move, claiming that the opposition had been ignored when the ruling majority deputies passed the amendments.

The smaller Liberal Party, LP, the New Social Democrats, NSDP, and the New Alternative, NA, also announced that they would boycott the sessions. The coordination sessions are regular meetings attended by all the parties in parliament in order to coordinate the upcoming agenda. They are seen as key for building mutual trust and for the normal work of the parliament.

The parties complain that the majority refuses by all means to put to discussion controversial issues like the project for the revamp of the capital, dubbed “Skopje 2014” , which was initiated by the government.

Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski said he regrets this move and invited the parties to reconsider their decision.