• Wednesday, 03 July 2024

Parliament debate on French proposal continues as VMRO-DPMNE MPs blow vuvuzelas

Parliament debate on French proposal continues as VMRO-DPMNE MPs blow vuvuzelas
Skopje, 15 July 2022 (MIA) — For the second day, Members of Parliament are discussing the French proposal for the negotiation framework for North Macedonia’s accession talks with the European Union, with VMRO-DPMNE MPs either speaking against the proposal or preventing SDSM MPs from speaking by whistling or blowing vuvuzela horns. Before the one-hour break that Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi gave lawmakers after a heated debate, VMRO-DPMNE MP Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said the proposed negotiating framework was unprecedented. “For an unprecedented state,” she said, “an unprecedented framework.” Despite the noise, SDSM MP Daniela Markovska said the EU was casting no doubt on the language of Macedonians being Macedonian. “What are you, VMRO-DPMNE, protesting against, you people lost in history?” Markovska said. “We’re entering the EU as Macedonians with our Macedonian language.” Democratic Union MP Pavle Trajanov said he was sure the negotiation framework could be changed “to serve our national interests, identity, language, history, customs and traditions.” VMRO-DPMNE’s Zorancho Jovanchev called on Trajanov to say whether he supported the French proposal. “This is a humiliating proposal. Stand on the side of the people,” Jovanchev said. Trajanov responded that he wanted Ursula von der Leyen’s speech in Parliament on Thursday to be included in the negotiation framework. mr/