Parliamentary questions: DUI accuses Ministry of Interior over interethnic coexistence

The parliamentary questions session continued today without Prime Minister and several ministers, who are in New York for the UN General Assembly, while MPs raised concerns ranging from finances and education to interethnic tensions.

Opposition DUI criticises Ministry of Interior

MPs from the opposition DUI (Democratic Union for Integration) accused the government of failing to adequately manage interethnic coexistence. They singled out the Ministry of Interior for criticism, and also raised concerns about the police academy and recurring clashes between sports fans that often take on an ethnic character.

Minister Toshkovski replied to the accusations, saying: "As he said, finally in this country the time has come when the constitution and the laws come first instead of ethnic markers."

The session also featured questions about the organization of the planned events for the 35th anniversary of independence. SDSM coordinator Oliver Spasovski demanded transparency from the deputy finance minister, who answered briefly that the information falling under their remit would be delivered in writing and that other matters were for a different address.

Opposition MPs again criticised the absence of several ministers and the prime minister, who remains in New York accompanying the country's delegation to the UN General Assembly. The parliamentary questions session proceeded despite those absences.

Photo: press material from the event