Vote on the Law on Fair and Adequate Representation Postponed in North Macedonia

Today’s session of the Assembly of North Macedonia did not hold a vote on the Law on Fair and Adequate Representation, as the matter was postponed for another time. The decision prompted reactions from the Albanian opposition, which criticised the parliamentary majority.

Vesna Bendevska, the Assembly’s vice-president from ZNAM, stressed that the item had not been removed from the agenda. According to her, the postponement was made under Article 170 of the Assembly’s new Rules of Procedure.

“Item 8 has not been removed from the agenda; it remains there, but in accordance with Article 170, which gives the speaker the right to reschedule the voting day after the discussion has concluded. It is part of the new Rules of Procedure, which were used for the first time in this Assembly, and we will work under these rules,” Bendevska said.

DUI MP Rina Ajdari criticised Assembly Speaker Afrim Gashi for not being present at the session.

“You yourselves proposed the Law on Fair and Adequate Representation, you yourselves brought it to Parliament, and now you do not even have the strength to pass it. Should we help you by leaving the chamber so you can continue here? But do you know where the problem lies? It lies in the legitimacy that has been given to us through votes,” Ajdari said.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Albanian Alliance, Ziadin Sela, accused the authorities of seeking to pass the law without transparency.

“Are these delays being made to use some form of blackmail against MPs, to entice MPs, or what? Or are they tracking where we are and where we are not through the ‘Safe City’ cameras, so that you can then smuggle through a law that is very important for all citizens,” Sela stated.