Skopje, 19 May 2023 (MIA) – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski is adamant that he is not thinking about resigning, despite the fact the deadline for the constitutional changes expires in November. 

“This is not only a task of the Government, but of all political and social stakeholders in the country. Every MP has this task, to make a decision for the future of the citizens, because our citizens want and deserve a European future,” said Kovachevski after Friday’s meeting with the leaders of the coalition partners.

The PM pointed out that after joining the EU, countries like Romania, Czechia, Slovakia experienced accelerated growth and a higher standard of living, and, according to Kovachevski, this is a result of the fact that the countries are members of the EU.

“We used to have a higher standard of living than them when we were a part of Yugoslavia, and they were a part of the Warsaw Pact. Moreover, an EU member state receives 11 times more finances from the EU funds per capita than the candidate countries. All of these arguments are additional proof of why the country should become an EU member, and this process cannot be held hostage by someone’s daily political interests,” Kovachevski underlined.

This is why, the PM said, the Government’s mandate is not tied to the adoption of the constitutional changes, however, he said, the Government will show it has a pro-European parliamentary majority.

“I hope that in the end the opposition will make a decision with which it will join the European bloc, because the opposition, too, has a task to make decisions in the interest of the citizens, and EU membership is a top interest for the citizens. The path to the EU means reforms, it means upgrading all systems and areas of society,” said Kovachevski.

The PM pointed out that for 11 years the country had no rise in GDP or development of the economy.

“After joining NATO, we now have an increased number of foreign investments, an increased number of workers who work for foreign companies. Those workers, through those jobs, pay the wages of the public sector employees by paying taxes,” said Kovachevski.

The Prime Minister said these arguments show why the country should become an EU member, adding that the language and identity have been safeguarded and now the country has to fulfill the tasks from the negotiating framework.

Photo: MIA