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MOST Presents Publication on the Work of Representatives in the Sobranie

NVO Infocentar

01 March 2007

MOST Civic Association presented its publication �My Representative�, which offers findings from the monitoring of the work of MPs in the Sobranie of the Republic of Macedonia for the period August 2006-January 2007. The booklet didn�t aim to analyze the work and behaviour of MPs or comment on them, but to present the pure data as collected.

�This is not the first project of its type but a part of a continuing process that MOST implements together with the Sobranie. It marks the continuation of openness of the Sobranie to the public, having in mind that it is the only way to secure strengthened democracy�, said Todor Pendarov, the Spokesperson of the Sobranie, and added that the Sobranie expects more such projects.

According to Darko Aleksov, MOST Executive Director, �My Representative� is a took that presents the citizens with information about the work done by the Members of Parliament, their attendance data, numbers of inquiries they made from the Government and other official data received from the Sobranie.

The publication shows that 12 MPs (10% of the total Sobranie) attended all 90 sessions. Four of them, in spite of never missing a session, never asked to speak to the Parliament while the number of MPs that never debated was 13. Roza Topuzova-Karevska was the most active at the pulpit and debated on most subjects and issues.

Rafis Aliti recorded the highest number of replies to speeches by his colleagues. He also had the highest number of procedural interventions and, together with Agron Buxhaku, submitted the greatest number of legislative initiatives and bills. Vesna Janevska, on the other hand, submitted the greatest number of amendments to draft-bills and initiatives.

Esad Rahic, Oliver Spasovski and Fiat Canovski were most active in terms of posting MPs� inquiries to the Government. During the period covered by the report, the Sobranie adopted a total of 33 laws and regulations.

According to Aleksov, this is the second such publication, the first being �Representative 2003�, prepared by MOST and published in 2004. Aleksov emphasized that the citizens need to be informed about the work of their elected representatives in order to be able make a judgment whether they made the right decision when casting the vote.