Parliament approves Criminal Code amendments; opposition warns of impunity
Ruling MPs say changes are a short, SEPA-related intervention; opposition calls them ad hoc fixes that remove criminal liability provisions.
Parliament approved targeted amendments to the Criminal Code presented by the ruling majority as a measure to harmonize domestic law with European financial standards and to address risks linked to North Macedonia’s participation in SEPA.
The changes, the majority said, are a short, focused intervention aimed at strengthening rules against money laundering, the financing of terrorism and related asset confiscation to protect the country’s SEPA membership. The proposed amendments were signed by MPs from the ruling coalition.
Opposition warns of widened impunity
Opposition parties criticized the move as a piecemeal solution that shifts the boundaries of criminal responsibility and leaves room for impunity. They pointed to the deletion of a provision that previously carried a prison sentence of one to ten years for officials and responsible persons who negligently fail to prevent the financing of terrorism.
Antonio Milososki, MP of VMRO-DPMNE, defended the draft: "The amendments concern only criminal offences that strengthen the control of money laundering, financing of terrorism and the confiscation of property related to these offences, all with the aim of protecting North Macedonia's achievements and membership in SEPA, the single European payments area. These proposed amendments are based on recommendations of the Council of Europe and its expert group on these offences, which were issued back in May 2023, but unfortunately have not been implemented until now."
Amar Mecinovic of Levica accused the majority of using ad hoc fixes instead of a comprehensive code reform: "What we have seen from the VMRO-DPMNE majority in the last two years is treating the Criminal Code and criminal practice as something that can be addressed with ad hoc solutions — as conditions change and major problems that are noticeable in our society arise. When the law itself reaches a substantive debate we will present our positions, but what the public should know is that impunity continues to exist and a new Criminal Code is not being adopted in full because that does not suit the balance between VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM and the impunity of their officials."
The ruling majority says the issues raised by opponents will be covered by a new Criminal Code, whose adoption is still expected but has not yet been completed.
Photo: press material from the event
