Skopje, 16 April 2024 (MIA) — VMRO-DPMNE wants to change the Constitution, but they don't think it is the right time because of the required procedures and Bulgaria's behavior, German Bundestag member Peter Beyer of the Christian Democratic Union said in a Sitel TV appearance on Tuesday evening after meeting with VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski earlier in the day.

Beyer said he understood VMRO-DPMNE's narrative. He added that his talks with party representatives over recent years confirmed their pro-European position.

"This does not come as a surprise," he said. "VMRO-DPMNE representatives have been traveling around the EU and talking with the Americans who always play an important role when it comes to this region. 

"We had many meetings with them in Brussels and Berlin and they explained their narrative and arguments. I and the rest of us could understand their logic. So I think they are pro-European but they need to put in more effort to gain credibility in the sense that they will back the constitutional changes as soon as they form a government," Bayer said.

He said no VMRO-DPMNE representative had ever said anything against the European Union in public.

"I have not witnessed a high representative of VMRO-DPMNE say anything publicly against the EU. On the contrary, in all the conversations we have had in recent years, I have witnessed many pro-European positions. I know for certain they want to amend the Constitution, but they have arguments and reasons for saying no right now: Because of the procedures for amending the Constitution as well as the behavior of Bulgaria and some of its highest representatives," Beyer said.

He said any future government would have to address the matter. 

"After the elections, if they win and form a government — or anyone else forming a government — they will have to deal with this issue. My expectation is that the next government will be pro-European and will adopt the constitutional amendments – not next year, but before the end of this year," Beyer said. mr/