SDSM: VMRO-OKG Rejects Law to Create 'Blaže Koneski' State Award

SDSM accused deputies from VMRO-OKG of voting down a bill that would establish a new state award bearing the name of the linguist Blaže Koneski. The proposal would have created an annual state honour for outstanding scholarly and professional work related to the Macedonian language and Macedonian studies.

Blaže Koneski is described by SDSM as a towering figure and the principal codifier of the Macedonian literary language — a founder of modern Macedonian linguistic science, a linguist, literary and cultural historian, poet, prose writer and translator. He served as the first president of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and as rector of the University of Skopje, and is the author of major works in the field.

The draft law foresaw that the award named after Koneski would be presented each year on December 19, the date of his birth. SDSM asked rhetorically, "Why do they object to Blaže Koneski?" and pointed to what it described as a broader disregard for the Macedonian language.

Accusations from SDSM

In its statement, SDSM said VMRO-OKG has not implemented the Law on the Use of the Macedonian Language for two years. The party also criticised a decision related to the cultural institution Macedonikum, saying that it had allowed the cultural heritage to be "soiled for 500 euros."

SDSM characterised the opposition’s vote as proof that "VMRO does not care about the Macedonian language" and called the decision to oppose the Koneski award an example of hypocrisy. The statement concluded with a sharp condemnation: "This is the true hypocritical face of the false patriots from the organized criminal group."

No response from VMRO-OKG was included in the material released by SDSM. The parliamentary vote leaves the proposed honour formally defeated for now; proponents say they will continue to press for recognition of achievements in the study and promotion of the Macedonian language.

Photo: press material from the event