Quiet start to the Assembly session: 54 agenda items, 45 on shortened procedure

The first plenary session after the summer recess opened quietly, despite earlier threats of blockades by the Albanian opposition bloc.

Opposition SDSM repeatedly raised procedural objections during the session. SDSM coordinator Oliver Spasovski complained that committee meetings were being scheduled before the plenary agenda was finalized and flagged that of the 54 items on today’s agenda, 45 would be processed under a shortened procedure.

Assembly Speaker Gashi accepted the complaint related to the work of committee bodies.

Political context and reactions

SDSM has previously alleged an internal agreement between DUI and VMRO-DPMNE aimed at engineering blockades to force early parliamentary elections through which "integrativците би влегле на Илинденска". VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski declined to comment directly on these rumours, saying that "there is no need to comment on everything and anything that comes out of the party kitchens and those of the parliamentary groups in the Assembly."

Leftist party Levica said it would not be surprised if deals for early elections existed, not only between DUI and VMRO-DPMNE but also involving opposition SDSM, while adding that it did not find the procedural objections themselves problematic.

Today’s agenda included 54 points, 45 of them slated for shortened procedure. None of the proposed laws on the agenda require the Badinter procedure. Laws that would invoke Badinter include three in the education sector, one on local self-government, one on equitable representation and several dozen related to managerial posts — measures that, according to MPs, will have to wait for more favourable timing and political will.

Photo: press material from the event