The opposition SDSM party has submitted draft amendments to North Macedonia’s Government Act, proposing an expansion of the ban on dual citizenship. SDSM advocates that the restriction should apply not only to MPs, as initially proposed by the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, but to all members of the government. The opposition party has called for these changes to be fast-tracked through Parliament and take effect immediately across Macedonia.
This development follows the submission by VMRO-DPMNE of amendments intended to prohibit future MPs from holding a second citizenship. These proposals were added to the parliamentary agenda under a fast-track procedure. SDSM criticized the VMRO-DPMNE bill, characterizing it as an incomplete measure.
According to the opposition, the existing proposal only affects MPs in the next parliamentary term and does not address current officials. In response, SDSM stated that their amendments aim to close this gap, asserting that no elected or appointed official in Macedonia should retain dual citizenship, with the changes taking effect without delay. The core dispute centers on the scope and timing of the legislation.
While VMRO-DPMNE focused its amendments on future eligibility for MPs, SDSM’s counter-proposal seeks comprehensive coverage across the entire executive branch, ensuring immediate compliance with restrictions on dual citizenship for all government personnel.
Topics: #citizenship #mps #macedonia
This seems like a significant political move, but I wonder if it’s practical to enforce across an entire cabinet.
If the SDSM proposal passes, would it affect current cabinet members who already possess dual citizenship?