North Macedonia Govt Embraces Opposition ‘Red Lines’ in Bulgaria Talks

After previously saying they saw no reason for it, North Macedonia's main ruling Social Democrats on Monday offered to support an opposition resolution on the country's language and identity in regards to ongoing talks with neighbouring Bulgaria.

The right-wing VMRO DPMNE party has accused the government of surrendering too easily to Bulgarian demand in the talks, and even of national treason.

"The Social Democrats' position on the Macedonian language and identity are crystal clear. The identity red lines are clear to our people and to the entire international public," a Social Democrat MP and member of the party's executive board, Kostadin Kostadinov, told the media.

"If VMRO DPMNE is not sure on these lines, we as a constructive parliamentary majority can make that step without any problem and accept the resolution as is," Kostadinov added, noting that support for the document should dispel "all the lies that we are committing national treason" that the opposition has been spreading.

If the ruling party's support comes to pass, the opposition draft presented on Sunday has a high chance of passing in parliament. Some of the smaller parties in the ruling coalition, like the Democratic Alliance, DS, the Democratic Renewal of Macedonian, DOM, and the Liberal Democrats, LDP, also on Monday expressed support for it.

Over the weekend, the Social Democrats had stated that they saw no good reason why parliament should discuss already resolved issues like the Macedonian language and identity.

Bulgaria blocked the start of North Macedonia's EU accession talks last year, citing disputes over its history, language and identity, which it insists have Bulgarian roots. Skopje has repeated that it cannot compromise over sensitive issues...