Skopje, 16 January 2022 (MIA) — For the second day, Members of Parliament voiced opposing views on the legitimacy and the competence of the new cabinet members during the parliamentary debate ahead of the vote for the new government led by Dimitar Kovachevski, which should be held by midnight.  Opposition lawmakers blamed the government for corruption, unprofessional behavior, low salaries, high taxes, and deleterious policies, whereas members of the ruling coalition said the new government ministers had the support of the citizens who voted in the 2020 parliamentary election and were on the right track. SDSM MP Daniela Koleva said the parliamentary majority would give confidence to the new government. According to her, the candidates were experienced professionals. “I have no doubt this government will set even higher standards for how an institution should work and how a senior official should behave. The government has a number of strategies and operational plans, projects, and an agenda that is precise, concrete and clear. With its ambitious and complete concept, it will continue taking positive decisions and serious steps,” Koleva said. The new government, she said, would increase salaries “in education, health care, the judiciary, the inspectorate, and later in all other sectors.” She added that the unemployment rate was currently at an all-time low of 15.7 percent. VMRO-DPMNE MP Zorancho Jovanchev in his reply said the same people who were to blame for the country’s crises could not solve them. The candidates, he said, were all related to the "hybrid regime" of Zoran Zaev. “You haven’t made a single road in the country. I am talking about a road, from concept to completion. You destroyed even the existing roads,” Jovanchev said. He called for earlt parliamentary elections because of “the economic and energy tsunami.” VMRO-DPMNE MP Daniela Hristova blamed the government for corruption and incompetence. She said people were tired of low wages, high taxes, and deleterious policies, which she said the new government would continue as part of its “Zaevism.” Levica MP Dimitar Apasiev accused the prime minister-designate of not being a representative of the middle class, which he said a true Social Democrat should represent. He also blamed the government for failing on many counts. “You've only brought defeat to defeat. Defeated by Greece, and now defeated by Bulgaria, where there will be no Macedonian language or it will exist only as a footnote. Defeated by DUI or Alternativa, who now have over one third of the ministries. DUI and Ali Ahmeti so far have torn down eight Macedonian prime ministers – you will be the ninth. Carovska is gone, but Marichikj and Grubi are still here," Apasiev said. SDSM MP Darko Kaevski in his reply said this government was better than any previous government although, he said, this was not enough – the citizens deserved even better. DOM MP Maja Morachanin highlighted the European Green Deal as a foundation of the government’s agenda. “Creating new green jobs is becoming a priority,” Morachanin said. “This is what we as a green party, and not only us but the greens all over the world, are asking for [ … ] No more emissions of greenhouse gases that are the main cause of climate change.” SDSM MP Martin Kostovski said VMRO-DPMNE was afraid of the new government and PM-designate Kovachevski, and noted that citizens were tired of empty party rhetoric and political bickering. He added that citizens wanted much more: to see the end of the pandemic and to have higher salaries and higher pension checks. Parliament should conclude its 60th session by midnight at the latest, after holding a vote to elect the new cabinet. On Saturday, SDSM president and PM-designate Kovachevski presented the new government agenda and announced a boost in the country’s minimum wage, reducing the unemployment rate, and an increase of retirees’ pension checks, as well. In his speech before lawmakers, he said the new government had a clear and feasible plan to face the economic and energy crisis by supporting the population and the economy. “The Government will implement a strategy that in the short, medium and long term will ensure secure energy supply and a sustainable energy system. The focus will be on renewable energy sources and the efficient use of available natural resources,” he said. Talks with Bulgaria will continue, but no one may or will dispute the identity and language of the Macedonian people, the PM-designate said. “We have achieved our decades-long strategic goal of NATO membership and provided peace, stability, and a secure future for our children,” he noted, adding that the governments of North Macedonia and Bulgaria were determined to solve the dispute blocking the country's EU membership through dialogue and cooperation. “Macedonian and Bulgarian citizens are more interested in the economy; cultural, educational and youth exchanges; and road infrastructure. These are the issues we need to cooperate much more on. History belongs to historians, but our identity issues are the foundations of our nation and our state. “The Government has no dilemmas: No one may and no one will debate on the identity of the Macedonian people or the historically and scientifically confirmed specificity and uniqueness of the Macedonian language.” mr/