Macedonia Language Law Draws Praise and Vitriol

[Mingle]

Macedonia’s adoption of a law extending the use of the Albanian language has drawn praise from neighbouring Albania and Kosovo – but also fury from nationalists at home.

While Albania and Kosovo have praised Macedonia’s new government, led by the Social Democrats, for improving Albanian language rights, nationalist critics at home have savaged the change as unconstitutional.

Macedonian police on Thursday confirmed that the car of one Social Democrat MP, Slavica Shumanska-Miteva, was set on fire in the town of Vinica on Wednesday night.

Shumanska-Miteva said that she suspected that the attack was inspired by Wednesday’s violent scenes in parliament.

“Vandals are behind this, encouraged by yesterday’s conduct of the [opposition] VMRO DPMNE MPs, when they tried to prevent the vote,” she told Fokus daily.

Police also reported arresting one person on Wednesday night in front of the parliament building in Skopje, after a search determined he carried baton and rocks.

On the other hand, leaders in Kosovo and Albania welcomed Wednesday’s adoption of the long-anticipated law that extends the use of the Albanian language in Macedonia.

“I greet the determination to approve the law ... as an important historical and important act, not only for Albanians but also for the European future of Macedonia,” the President of Albania, Ilir Meta, wrote on Facebook.

Ditmir Bushati, Albania's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, called it an important achievement.

“The passage of this law after the refusal of the [Macedonian] President and the obstructionist behavior of some specific segments of the old politics, is a great achievement for Albanians as a state-forming population,” Bushati wrote.

The Macedonian parliament adopted the law on Wednesday in a tense atmosphere.

Minutes before the vote, former prime minister and former leader of the VMRO DPMNE party Nikola Gruevski went behind speaker Talat Xhaferi’s desk and tried to meddle with his electronic equipment.

Tension peaked when Gruevski had a brief scuffle with the speaker, prompting the parliament's security force to intervene and separate the two.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, who already vetoed the law in January, and is now obliged to sign it, also opposed the decision, and said that despite his constitutional duties, he would not sign the act, which may further complicate his relations with the new government.

While the government insists the law will make life easier for ethnic Albanians in the country and boost their loyalty to it, the opposition insists it goes against the constitution and endangers national unity.

Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaci, meanwhile said that it was good news not only for the Albanian community but for the entire region.

“There is good will for coexistence, respecting cultural diversity and dignity and integrity of every citizen,” Klan Kosova TV quoted Thaci as saying.

The Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, called it a major step forward, for Albanian rights and for respect for civic values.

“The Macedonian parliament's decision enhances relations between the communities living in the country, promotes its democratic development and opens the country's perspective towards Euro-Atlantic integrations,” Haradinaj wrote on Facebook.

The speaker of Kosovo parliament, Kadri Veseli, also greeted a move towards “the fulfillment of a legitimate and essential right.

“This event marks an important step in the fulfillment of the Ohrid Agreement and the achievement of the high human rights standards required in the framework of Euro-Atlantic integration,” Veseli wrote.

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http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/arti...nce-03-15-2018

[Vojnik]

The President has not, and will not sign it off. Plus, it is unconstitutional as it did not receive the required 2/3 vote from the 120 seat parliament.

[Crn Volk]

https://sputniknews.com/europe/20180...ge-population/



The Law on Languages, an unconstitutional measure designed to make Albanian a second official language in Macedonia, was passed in Parliament on Wednesday by negating the right to the parliamentary debate of proposed amendments, lawmaker Ilija Dimovski of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party said.

The bill was passed in parliament earlier, but Macedonia’s President Gjorge Ivanov refused to sign it into law for deeming the measure unconstitutional and one that endangers the unitary Macedonian state. Ivanov returned the law to parliament for further review.

"The president [Ivanov] pointed out that 19 articles of the legislation are unconstitutional and VMRO-DPMNE submitted amendments with respect to those amendments," Dimovski said on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, requesting the speaker not to allow a vote on the measure.

Dimovski explained the proposed amendments had been ignored by the ruling majority of the Albanian DUI party and the Socialdemocratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), and listed numerous legal and procedural violations.

"The EU designation [as priority reform law] was used incorrectly, the government made a violation as did the Parliament by not returning the draft legislation to the government," Dimov said. "We called for public debate on the bill… but there was none.

After Dimovski's speech, Parliament Speaker Talat Dzaferi enabled voting on two other laws and called for a pause of one hour. Upon the lawmakers return, and after heated protests that at times threatened to turn into scuffles, the Law on Languages was passed with 64 out of 120 votes, and without the opposition lawmakers voting on it.
Solza Grceva, leader of the popular Voice for Macedonia party, lead the criticism of the law and wrote in a statement that the measure had been passed in a criminal manner in violation of parliamentary procedures and democratic principles by a US-installed governing coalition.

"This parliament is not ours, we do not recognize it. Macedonia must not be a hostage to a blackmailed government and politicians." Grceva said.

The vote on the law came after US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell and Senator Chris Murphy visited Macedonia to discuss Macedonia’s name dispute with Greece in an effort to promote NATO and EU membership.

On Wednesday evening, President Ivanov issued a statement to the nation saying the law was passed in an undemocratic manner, will cause a total blockade of the state institutions, deepen inter-ethnic tensions and subject Macedonia to a redefinition of its constitutional order.

As a consequence, Ivanov informed the public that he will not sign the measure into law.

[The Illyrian Warrior]

Just posted in another thread but this is for two guys who lack proper information about their country.

Actually you're wrong and misinterpreting your own constitution, if you actually looked up and read carefully you'll see the following section of constitution...

'Article 75

Laws are declared by promulgation. The promulgation declaring a law is signed by the President of the Republic and the President of the Assembly. The President of the Republic may decide not to sign the promulgation declaring a law. The Assembly reconsiders the law and the President of the Republic is then obliged to sign the promulgation in so far as it is adopted by a majority vote of the total number of Representatives. The President is obliged to sign a promulgation if the law has been adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Representatives in accordance with the Constitution. '



The bolded part is what should interest us and one that hold importance or what may held back the current bill, according to article 75, president has right to not sign the bill in first voting, in second voting (pay close attention to bolded and underlined part, that's most important one) he is obligated to sign the bill voted by majority of votes (not 2/3, just majority), now regarding of 2/3 of votes, in the end you see if those votes were secured he should sign bill immediately unless there's collision with constitution - hence contradictions with other sections of constitutions.

What you see my fried you're caught tight and there's turning back anymore, president should sign the bill or waiting in line to be ousted and be jailed for violating constitution he is supposed to protect.

[Colonel Frank Grimes]

Just posted in another thread but this is for two guys who lack proper information about their country.

How is that different than what a poster already said?

The President has not, and will not sign it off. Plus, it is unconstitutional as it did not receive the required 2/3 vote from the 120 seat parliament.

What you posted:

'Article 75

Laws are declared by promulgation. The promulgation declaring a law is signed by the President of the Republic and the President of the Assembly. The President of the Republic may decide not to sign the promulgation declaring a law. The Assembly reconsiders the law and the President of the Republic is then obliged to sign the promulgation in so far as it is adopted by a majority vote of the total number of Representatives. The President is obliged to sign a promulgation if the law has been adopted by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Representatives in accordance with the Constitution.

'

[The Illyrian Warrior]

How is that different than what a poster already said?



What you posted:

'

The current law is not a constitutional amendment to seek 2/3 of votes, in second voting they filled the majority requirement, with 2/3 you can make constitutional amendments however current law is not a constitutional amendment, you only need second voting and the president is obliged to sign either way.

[Dibran]

The President has not, and will not sign it off. Plus, it is unconstitutional as it did not receive the required 2/3 vote from the 120 seat parliament.

It does not require 2/3 vote as it is not a constitutional amendment. Like I told you the last time you posted the article regarding the Veto. Only constitutional amendments require 2/3rds for a pass. It is not at all unconstitutional. Just like minority groups(including Macedonians) push for minority civic and language rights in other Balkan Countries, Albanians have every right to the same. They are also not merely an insignificant minority, but a second majority in the nation. Language rights in sectarian nations have not replaced or threatened the major national language of communication. What would do that are fertility rates. If you can't keep your population large enough, eventually your growing minorities become majorities. Embracing this bill only makes peace, cooperation, and the future stability of Macedonia far more probable. Having it your pig headed segregationist way would only lead to the outcome you fear the most.....a complete breakup of Macedonia between its neighbors. It doesn't take a genius to realize that becoming Russia's cannon fodder will not secure the future of your nation. Look whats happening to Serbia. Follow in their footsteps and watch the result.

[Vojnik]

It does not require 2/3 vote as it is not a constitutional amendment. Like I told you the last time you posted the article regarding the Veto. Only constitutional amendments require 2/3rds for a pass. It is not at all unconstitutional. Just like minority groups(including Macedonians) push for minority civic and language rights in other Balkan Countries, Albanians have every right to the same. They are also not merely an insignificant minority, but a second majority in the nation. Language rights in sectarian nations have not replaced or threatened the major national language of communication. What would do that are fertility rates. If you can't keep your population large enough, eventually your growing minorities become majorities. Embracing this bill only makes peace, cooperation, and the future stability of Macedonia far more probable. Having it your pig headed segregationist way would only lead to the outcome you fear the most.....a complete breakup of Macedonia between its neighbors. It doesn't take a genius to realize that becoming Russia's cannon fodder will not secure the future of your nation. Look whats happening to Serbia. Follow in their footsteps and watch the result.

Yes it will be a constitutional amendment. Article 7 of the constitution states the following:

Article 7

The Macedonian language, written using its Cyrillic alphabet, is the official language in the Republic of Macedonia. In the units of local self-government where the majority of theinhabitants belong to a nationality, in addition to the Macedonian language and Cyrillicalphabet, their language and alphabet are also in official use, in a manner determined by law.In the units of local self-government where there is a considerable number of inhabitantsbelonging to a nationality, their language and alphabet are also in official use, in addition tothe Macedonian language and Cyrillic alphabet, under conditions and in a manner determinedby law.

If the law is passed, it will reflect onto the constitution. That means the constitution will change. For that you need 2/3 vote in parlement, which you don't have. Macedonians who have voted for this, and who are known, will go down in history with our long list of traitors.

In that article of the constitution i quoted, you even see the fairness of allowing minorities to have their language official wherever they are the majority. You are so greedy. You have your own country in Albania where the language is official. Go there if you don't like it in Macedonia.

[Thanas Django]

Why is Fyrom denying this right to their minority? Absolutely barbaric.

[Vojnik]

Why is Macedonia denying this right to their minority? Absolutely barbaric.

They have official language status in areas where they are 20% of the population or more. We have far better minority rights then all our neighbours, especially nea ellas. But you neo-Greeks don't know what minorities are because 100% of your country is pure Greek straight out of the ball sack of Leonidas himself.