Opposition MPs held an urgent press conference to condemn the scandalous behavior that shook the parliamentary session, which they described as a direct blow to democratic values and the institution’s most basic standards of ethics.
Sources within Parliament report that in the lawmakers’ club area, ministerial candidate Ivan Stoilković harshly insulted opposition MP of Albanian origin Arbana Pasholli of DUI, using highly derogatory language. As a result, colleagues present intervened immediately and removed him from the premises.
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According to opposition representatives, the visible agitation of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and ministerial nominee Ivan Stoilković was evident during the debate on the administration’s failures and fiasco over these two years in government.
“The essence of democracy lies in the ability to accept criticism and shortcomings, drawing lessons from them. However, in Macedonia there appears to be a belief that attacking those who point out problems will lead to improved results,” they said during the conference.
Initially, the offensive language was directed at two SDSM representatives, deputy coordinator Fatmir Bitiki and MP Mitko Trajčuleski. But the events that followed the suspension of the session took on another dimension, turning into outright aggression, not merely verbal, but filled with humiliating epithets from Ivan Stoilković.
“Such behavior does not befit someone seeking to assume the post of minister through the vote of this Parliament. Neither the economic collapse, nor the destruction of agriculture, nor failed social policies, nor the blockage of the European path can be covered up through attacks on the opposition and lawmakers,” they added.
The speakers expressed deep concern over the inaction of Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, who took no action despite having a duty to intervene as the chair of the session and under the Code of Ethics approved by Parliament itself.
“We expect a public apology. No individual should be subjected to insults, threats or harsh language. We demand this response from Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi, to demonstrate that he upholds his position as first among equals,” they concluded.
