FYROM Passes Law Boosting Albanian Language Status

Macedonia's (FYROM) parliament has passed a law extending the official use of the Albanian language, despite protests from the right-wing opposition who say the decision will put the Balkan country's national unity in jeopardy.

Sixty-four lawmakers in the 120-member parliament voted to adopt the law on March 14, without a debate requested by the opposition.

Lawmakers from the right-wing opposition party, the VMRO-DPMNE, staged protests against the measure — which had already been passed in January, but was again put up for a vote after conservative President Gjorge Ivanov vetoed it.

The president must sign it into law following the new vote.

Outside the parliament building, several hundred protesters demonstrated against the law, but the protests passed without incident.

Macedonian is the primary official language, but ethnic Albanians make up around a...