North Macedonia's parliamentary commission drafting constitutional amendment aimed at ending deadlock with Bulgaria faces opposition resistance

As the North Macedonian parliamentary commission starts work this week on drafting important but controversial change designed to satisfy neighbouring Bulgaria, opposition parties have cried foul, insisting that the experts nominated in it lack credibility, as they are close to the ruling parties. [...] Almost all parliamentary opposition parties have refused to delegate experts to the commission instigated by the Justice Ministry. The government went along with its formation regardless, insisting it is of key importance. [...] Some members of the commission admitted [...] that the lack of opposition representatives will be a handicap, as it will mean there is no broad inter-party consensus on the proposed drafts. Its nominated head, Aleksandar Novakovski told TV 24 that he would be open about their work. The commission will have some months to draft amendments to the constitutional preamble so that, along other peoples, Bulgarians are also listed as founders of the state. The change is part of an EU-mediated deal from last summer aimed at ending the deadlock with Bulgaria on the so-called “history dispute”. For two years, Sofia has blocked the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession talks over it. Among other things, it insists that the Macedonian identity and language are of Bulgarian origin and accuses Skopje of discriminating against Bulgarians in the country. [...] After the commission drafts the change, it is expected to reach the parliament before summer or in early autumn for voting. But the government faces a major problem in securing a two-thirds majority of at least 80 legislators in the 120-seat assembly. The government rests on a thin majority of just over 60 MPs and despite some opposition support, it is expected to be at least eight MPs short of the number it needs. Most opposition parties insist they will not support such a change. But the government is pressing its case that this would be a vote for the country’s EU future, and remains hopeful though that at least some opposition members will in the end vote in favour.
Read the full article here: Balkan Insight