Dauti Halts Session and Demands Mickoski Answer Her Parliamentary Question

The plenary session dedicated to MPs’ questions in the Assembly of North Macedonia was interrupted twice today after Albanian Alliance MP Ilire Dauti remained at the lectern and demanded that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski answer a parliamentary question. She said that although she had submitted it several weeks ago, she had still not received an answer.

Tensions began after Mickoski responded to MP and SDSM leader Venko Filipçe but, according to Dauti, once again left the issue she had raised unanswered. The MP therefore occupied the lectern and warned that she would not leave without receiving an explanation from the head of the government.

“I will not leave this lectern today until I receive an answer to the question I submitted last time. Either you come up here and provide an answer, or this session will not continue today,” Dauti said.

As the situation unfolded, MP Rijad Shaqiri asked to speak on a procedural matter. Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi was unable to continue the session as normal because Dauti refused to vacate the lectern. MP and Alliance for Albanians leader Zijadin Sela also stood beside her in a show of support.

There were also reactions from government members in the chamber. Gashi initially suspended the session for 30 minutes, while procedural clashes continued after proceedings resumed. SDSM MP Fatmir Bytyqi accused the prime minister of deliberately avoiding answers to parliamentary questions.