To continue negotiations for accession to the European Union, North Macedonia must recognize the Bulgarian minority in its Constitution. But the decision divides the country.
While the government of North Macedonia wishes to modify the Constitution to include the recognition of a Bulgarian minority, this decision divides the assembly. For deputies from the largest opposition party, this decision would jeopardize the very existence of this young Macedonian nation, born in 1991, after the breakup of Yugoslavia.
“Macedonians have in principle nothing against the fact that the Bulgarian minority is recognized in the Constitution. However, the preamble should highlight the historical continuity of the Macedonian people, the Macedonian nation and the specificity of the original Macedonian language.“, explains Branko Gerovski, editor-in-chief of the newspaper “Plus info”.
In 2022, Bulgaria lifted its veto on the opening of the country’s EU membership negotiations. But Sofia is now demanding that North Macedonia make this constitutional change.
“As a country we must fulfill this obligation, we must realize it, if we want to continue the European path“, explains Darko Kaevski, spokesperson for the Social Democratic Alliance.
These constitutional changes will be decided after the presidential and legislative elections, scheduled for the end of April and the beginning of May.