Zaev seeks support from the Albanian opposition forces for the constitutional changes

Zaev (left) and the leaders of Besa and Alliance

  The Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev is trying to persuade the leaders of opposition Albanian parties to support the constitutional changes related to the new name of Macedonia, which within a few days is expected to be voted in the parliament. The Alliance for Albanians and the Besa Movement, which have two MPs in the Macedonian Parliament, have a key role in this period when the parliamentary majority intends to reach the required two-thirds needed for the adoption of the constitutional changes.

The two Albanian parties insist that in the passports of citizens of what will soon be called the North Macedonia, in the paragraph of citizenship, they seek to be removed the word 'Macedonian' and replaced by ' the citizen of the Republic of Northern Macedonia. They also seek equality in the Preamble of the Constitution.

Prime Minister Zaev says the two Albanian opposition parties have acted positively and have so far been a constructive factor in making decisions about constitutional amendments and that he wants to hear of what are the concerns of these two parties, their voters and their supporters.

The parliamentary majority along with the eight excluded deputies from VMRO does not reach the correct figure of 80 votes and without the four Albanian legislators of the Alliance and Besa cannot pass the constitutional changes to be put in plenary session on January 9.

VMRO has warned that will not attend the hearing. If Mr. Zaev arrives to persuade two Albanian opposition leaders to support the constitutional changes, then within a few days Macedonia will officially assume the new name under the Prespa Treaty as the "Republic of North Macedonia" and this move will open the way to this Balkan country for rapid integration in NATO and EU. However, the Prespa Agreement should be ratified by the Greek parliament as well. While in Athens seems to be a lot of resistance, but Prime Minister Tsipras of the Syriza Party hints he has provided the necessary number for its approval in the Parliament.