Skopje, 17 February 2023 (MIA) - MPs started on Friday a debate on the dismissal of Alternativa's Minister of Information Society and Administration, Admirim Aliti, after a debate on the Government's proposal to dismiss the party member Bekim Sali ended late last night. 

VMRO-DPMNE MPs said Aliti hasn't done anything in terms of digitization and promotion of public administration, except deciding on his own on a balancer instrument to employ a greater number of Albanians.

"Aliti estimated that the percentage of Albanians in the diaspora should also be included in the balancer instrument, instead of the resident population, i.e. 31.5 percent instead of 24.3 percent according to the population census, which is illegal and unconstitutional. He made decisions on his own, and SDSM kept quiet in order to stay in power," MP Brane Petrushevski said.

Opposition MPs also asked about the cyber security strategy of the Ministry of Information Society and Administration, which Aliti has headed for more than a year, pointing to the hacker attack due to which the Health Insurance Fund is still blocked, as well as the bomb threats reported in schools that have been going on for four months.

"Institutions are not connected between each other, they are affected by hacker attacks... This is one of the key Ministries if we want to join Europe - digitization of institutions, reforms that would help the media and public administration. Of course Aliti should be dismissed because he hasn't done anything," said VMRO-DPMNE MP Igor Zdravkovski. 

According to him, the Prime Minister should also make changes in education and economy, but he believes that Kovachevski "can't even think of interfering" there because of his coalition partner Ali Ahmeti.

DUI MP Fisnike Bekteshi-Shaqiri said "Ali Ahmeti is an example of a leader because he wants to unite all ethnic groups in Macedonia in joining the European front together". 

"We address the Parliament in Albanian, we have adequate representation, and because of Ali Ahmeti we are a NATO member and we'll join the EU," said the DUI MP. 

VMRO-DPMNE MP Dragan Kovachki called the Alliance for Albanians (AA) a "spare wheel", to which MP Elmi Aziri replied that AA's decision to join the Government was based on the party's vision, mission and program objectives.

"There is no place for double standards in politics. It is incorrect to talk about crime and corruption here, when 400 of your officials are walking around in courts for crime and corruption," Aziri said. 

At Friday's session, opposition MPs continued criticizing the Government's policies, whereas ruling majority MPs argued back. 

SDSM MP Snezhana Kaleska-Vancheva said the policies of the party and the coalition are internationally recognized, adding that the country is today a NATO member and has started negotiations for European Union membership.  

"Five years ago we were qualified as a captive state, today we are a partner and ally of the western democratic world," said the SDSM MP. 

The debate on Aliti's dismissal ended on Friday. Vice President of the Parliament, Goran Misovski, said the session will resume at noon on Monday.

In addition to Bekim Sali and Admirim Aliti, the session's agenda includes the dismissal of Minister without portfolio in charge of diaspora, Xhemail Chupi, who is also from the ranks of Alternativa.