Constitutional changes dominated the pre-election debate between North Macedonia's presidential candidates, organized by the Macedonian MRT.
The current head of state and candidate for a second term Stevo Pendarovski (SDSM), Gordana Silyavovska (VMRO-DPMNE), Stevcho Yakimovski (GROM), Buyar Osmani (DSI), Biljana Vankovska (Left), Arben Taravari (coalition of the Albanian opposition parties) took part in the debate parties) and Maxim Dimitrievski (ZNAM).
Pendarovski emphasized the need to open the Constitution and include Bulgarians in the Preamble. He insisted that the Macedonian head of state should have an absolute veto, which would also require constitutional changes.
"From an internal political point of view, this means adding a small Bulgarian majority to the Constitution, along with several other ethnic communities," said Pendarovski.
"We must coexist for the good of the state, instead of fighting with each other. We rejected the Bulgarian idea, which is clear - to fully accept the Bulgarian narrative. All that remains is for these 3,500 Bulgarians, a small Bulgarian minority, to be entered together with five other parts of nations," said the presidential candidate.
VMRO-DPMNE candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova pointed out that "fundamental constitutional reforms" are needed, not "such as are being proposed at the moment".
Stevcho Yakimovski from GROM again stated that he is against the constitutional changes and the registration of the Bulgarians. "And we should set conditions for the EU, not be servile," he claims.
Buyar Osmani, nominated by the Democratic Union for Integration /DSI/ and the "European Front" coalition, insisted that the head of state should be elected by the deputies in the parliament, which means promoting democracy in the spirit of the Ohrid Framework Agreement.
Osmani defended the position that Skopje must fulfil its obligations under the Negotiating Framework with the European Union.
Arben Taravari said the RSM should seek a guarantee from the EU that constitutional changes are the last condition.
"It is obvious that the negotiation framework will not change", emphasized the leader of the Albanian opposition.
Bilyana Vankovska from the Left believed that terminating the Agreement with Bulgaria and the Prespa Agreement was the "easiest".
Maxim Dimitrijevski stated that "changes in the Macedonian constitution are not necessary to prevent the disintegration of the unity of the state". According to him, a change in the Negotiating Framework is not unachievable.
BGNES reminds that today, April 22, is the last day of the election campaign for the presidential elections. On April 24, the first round of the presidential vote will be held in the RSM. The parliamentary elections will be held on May 8, together with the second round of the presidential elections./BGNES
