Skopje, 23 June 2024 (MIA) - The Parliament resumed on Sunday its session on the election of the new government, proposed by PM-designate Hristijan Mickoski. The vote shall take place at the end of the debate and not later than midnight.

The Government shall be elected if the majority of the total number of Members of the Assembly voted for it. 

The session started on Saturday with PM-designate Hristijan Mickoski presenting the new government agenda. President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps attended the session. 

Mickoski presented the motion on the government's composition and program, announcing restoring trust in institutions, uncompromising fight against corruption and crime, economic recovery, tax reduction, pension and wage increase, building good relations with neighbours, nurturing interethnic relations and commitment to European integration. He told the opposition that he extends a hand and is ready for talks on all open and important issues. The opposition, on the other hand, said the new government's program was far from the promises made, and it cannot be said whether it will deliver on the promises.

Among the MPs addressing the session was SDSM leader, former PM and current MP Dimitar Kovachevski, who said that the program had inconsistent sections and views. According to him, announcements about the economy are general, with no specific figures on increasing the average and minimum wages, while regarding the government's composition, he stressed that "the time has come for the current government majority to vote for those it attacked just until yesterday", pointing out as an example Arben Taravari who has been nominated as Minister of Health. 

The parliamentary majority expected to back the new government in the legislative house includes 78 MPs - 58 from the VMRO-DPMNE coalition, 14 from the 'Worth It' coalition and six from the ZNAM Movement.

The new government is to have 20 ministries, four more than before. The government motion includes 24 ministers coming from the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition "Your Macedonia", the "Worth It" coalition, and ZNAM. With the approval of the new government composition in the Parliament, Hristijan Mickoski will be the 13th prime minister, and will lead the 20th government since the country's independence. 

Photo: MIA