The parliamentary committee on Defense and Security concluded, on a draft-decision, to propose the extension of the state of emergency as a result of the increased flows of migrants and refugees attempting to cross FYROM’s borders from Greece and Serbia.
Initially the state of emergency was declared in August 2015, until June 15 2016. If the draft passes, it will last until December 31 2016.
Backing up the proposal, minister of Defense Zoran Jolevski said it was reached due to in-depth analysis of the situation on the southern and northern borders, and the movement of migrants.
The main governmental partner VMRO-DPMNE, which holds a majority of 61 seats out of 120, is supporting the draft-decision thus making it likely to pass. However, DUI's coordinator Talat Xhaferi said that his part, which participates in the government coalition with 15 seats, does not endorse the extension. “Such a possibility is not envisaged by the law on crisis management. Also we have yet to see how the agreement reached by the EU and Turkey is going to function”. He went on to add that the engagement of soldiers to enforce the state of emergency along the southern and northern borders was undisputable.
VMRO-DPMNE MP, Vlatko Gjorcev expressed fears that the migrant and refugee crisis might well escalate further, rather than wear off, in 2016.