Two Key Bills Remain on Hold Until After Summer Recess

Lawmakers are wrapping up the final cycle of discussions before the summer recess, but the future of several bills that were placed on the agenda without being voted on remains unclear. Among them, the Law on Higher Education stands out, which was reviewed in the relevant committee but failed to pass in the plenary session, a fate similar to that of the Law on Fair Representation.

The Albanian opposition bloc continues to face internal divisions over the question of who is obstructing the process and who benefits from this delay. DUI MP Ilir Hasani, in a statement to the media, hinted that if the executive were truly determined, it would pass the law on fair representation in a vote without hesitation, thus revealing which side is sabotaging it. He also added that such issues could turn into powerful arguments for a debate on early elections, for which DUI has previously expressed its readiness.

On the other hand, the governing coalition partner VLEN openly accused the integrist party, emphasizing that it was they and their leader, Ahmeti, who blocked the Law on Fair Representation, undermining the fundamental principles of the Ohrid Framework Agreement. “Albanians did not expect Ali Ahmeti to block the Law on Fair Representation and undermine a key pillar of the Ohrid Agreement. What was the reason? The lust for power!” stated VLEN.

They continued in harsh tones: “The unchanged leaders of DUI, desperate after Albanian voters sent them into opposition, are now pursuing a course contrary to the community’s interests. In Rečica e Vogël, they have drafted a dangerous scenario, trying to create the impression that the rights of Albanians are at risk merely because DUI is no longer in power. According to them, Albanians enjoy rights only when their party holds posts and when their people are seated in chairs.”

Prime Minister Mickoski spoke briefly, dismissing the possibility that these laws could become bargaining chips for early elections. He emphasized that the executive has already prepared the necessary legal solutions and that the ball is now in the court of the people’s representatives. Despite having confirmed VMRO-DPMNE’s readiness for early elections several times, Mickoski added that he prefers to focus on current projects. Meanwhile, SDSM, which previously insisted on early elections, now maintains that Mickoski will call them only when the state coffers are empty.