EditThe Bulgarian passport problem rocks North Macedonia’s parliament
VMRO-DPMNE MPs accused of secretly holding Bulgarian passports introduced legislation they themselves are likely to violate
In a significant development that has sparked intense debate across the political spectrum, North Macedonia’s ruling VMRO-DPMNE party has pushed forward legislation barring members of parliament from holding dual citizenship.
The proposal, submitted as an amendment to the Law on Representatives of the People, aims to ensure that deputies owe exclusive allegiance to the North Macedonian state. This move comes amid accusations from the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) that several ruling party MPs secretly hold Bulgarian passports, raising questions about their hypocrisy.
The controversy erupted shortly after Bulgaria’s recent elections on 19 April, when the SDSM circulated a list naming VMRO-DPMNE representatives allegedly possessing Bulgarian citizenship and questioning their voting preferences abroad. In response, former Foreign Minister and current VMRO-DPMNE MP Antonio Milososki announced the bill via social media, framing it as a necessary safeguard for parliamentary sovereignty. One MP named, Boyan Stojanoski, publicly denied holding Bulgarian citizenship during a TV appearance on Sitel. His colleague Dafina Stojanovska dismissed the opposition’s claims as destined to “burst like a soap bubble” once the legislation passes, suggesting it would expose any unfounded allegations.
The surge in Bulgarian passports and its underlying drivers
At the heart of this political storm lies a broader phenomenon: the remarkable uptake of Bulgarian citizenship by citizens of North Macedonia. Bulgarian officials indicate that between 2007 and the beginning of 2026, more than 216,500 citizens of North Macedonia acquired Bulgarian passports. Interest has remained steady, with nearly 2,000 Macedonians granted citizenship in 2025 alone.
By proving Bulgarian ancestry, a relatively accessible process under Bulgarian law, applicants gain EU citizenship rights, including freedom of movement, of work, and education opportunities across the European Union. This pathway offers tangible economic and personal benefits in a region where unemployment and limited prospects often drive migration.
Yet the numbers reveal a discrepancy. North Macedonia’s 2021 census recorded only 3,504 people identifying as ethnic Bulgarians, a tiny fraction of the population. Experts attribute this gap to internal pressure and fear of stigma, as many who obtain the passport do is secretly.
Media in North Macedonia have noted that the very MPs who signed the VMRO-DPMNE proposal, including figures like Milososki, Nikola Micevski, Igor Zdravkovski, and Maria Petrushevska, are among those holding dual citizenship. This has fueled accusations of hypocrisy, turning what could be a principled debate on citizenship into a partisan spectacle. Albanian opposition parties, meanwhile, largely opposed the measure during parliamentary votes, highlighting ethnic dimensions to the discussion. In contrast, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) announced support, with its leader Monika Zajkova arguing forcefully for broader application.
Calls for consistency: extending the ban beyond parliament
Zajkova has been vocal in demanding that the restriction not stop at MPs. “Aren’t you fed up with the hypocrisy and double standards of the ‘big’ parties?” she asked rhetorically. “The law should apply equally to everyone. Just as it applies to the president of the state, the public prosecutor, and ambassadors, it should also apply to all elected and appointed persons – without exception. From today! And it should apply to the current ones, without delay.”
She proposed that officials notarize statements confirming sole Macedonian citizenship, both at present and at the time of assuming office, pledging immediate resignation in case of violation.
This push for universality reflects a deeper frustration with selective rules that appear to protect entrenched elites while questioning the loyalty of others. The SDSM, led by Venko Filipče, has indicated it will support the core VMRO-DPMNE proposal but plans to introduce amendments ensuring the ban applies retroactively to the current parliamentary composition. Filipče described the government’s version as a “classic deception,” noting the absence of explicit language making it binding on sitting MPs. He pledged additional legislation to cover all elected and appointed positions, from ministers to directors of public institutions. Opposition coordinator Oliver Spasovski echoed this, calling the bill populist and practically unenforceable without clear mechanisms to verify citizenship status.
The parliament ultimately adopted the proposal for shortened procedure debate with 77 votes in favor and just eight against. This fast-tracking has drawn criticism, especially given recent statements by Assembly Speaker Afrim Gashi advocating for public consultations on legislation. The ruling majority also advanced amendments to the Law on Government, aiming to abolish the caretaker (or technical) government mechanism after the 2028 elections or following any early polls. This provision, introduced in 2016 with international mediation to ensure neutral elections amid deep polarization, passed with 63 votes in favor and 13 against. SDSM and the European Front opposed it, arguing that partisan control over institutions, reminiscent of earlier eras, necessitates safeguards for fair voting. They insist any repeal should occur through consensus among the four largest parties, as the original law was adopted.
VMRO-DPMNE’s parliamentary group head, Nikola Micevski, dismissed the opposition’s “panicked reaction,” pointing to prior discussions dating back to January and longstanding calls from all sides to end the caretaker system. He emphasized that changes would not affect the immediate next elections, allowing time for dialogue. Spasovski countered that the ruling coalition had skipped key coordination meetings, undermining claims of inclusive process. Filipče warned that scrapping the technical government without broad agreement risks undermining democratic elections, especially as the current administration organizes its first full cycle since 2016. DUI MP Arbana Pasholi added that her party would reject both sets of amendments, criticizing the rushed procedure for sidelining opposition input and insisting the caretaker model, born of political agreement with EU and US backing, should only be dismantled similarly.
Proponents of the dual citizenship ban argue it strengthens national sovereignty at a time when external influences, particularly from neighboring Bulgaria, complicate identity and EU talks. Critics see it as selective targeting that fails to address systemic issues. The high number of Bulgarian passports among ordinary citizens underscores practical realities: many citizens of North Macedonia have been able to prove their Bulgarian ancestry and EU accession remains a powerful incentive, in spite of VMRO-DPMNE blocking this perspective.
The European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report urges North Macedonia to “adopt the necessary constitutional changes with a view to including in the Constitution citizens who live within the borders of the state and who are part of other people, such as Bulgarians.” The measure, agreed in the Council Conclusions of July 2022, remains an essential step for Skopje to advance on its path towards European Union membership. Nevertheless, the ruling VMRO-DPMNE wants to change this framework, which effectively freezes the country’s EU path.
EU urges North Macedonia to deliver on constitutional changes and step up rule of law reforms
Sources: Sitel TV, Sloboden Pechat, BTA
Caption: Antonio Costa, Christian Mickoski, Ursula von der Leyen during a meeting on the Western Balkans on 17 December, 2025 in Brussels (EPA)
Updated: April 23, 2026 - 14:09
