Former Finance Minister Xhevdet Hajredini warns that the Bulgarian demands for constitutional changes in Macedonia could lead to a great “Bulgarization” of the Macedonian people than anticipated. There are only a few thousand self-declared Bulgarians living in the country, but it’s estimated that over 100,000 Macedonians have declared Bulgarian identity in order to obtain an EU passport from that country.

By adding the Bulgarians in the Constitution, Bulgaria wants to begin a Bulgarization process of the Macedonians in Macedonia. Whether it will be successful or not, nobody knows, Hajredini said.

For this process to continue, Bulgaria would need Macedonia to remain outside of the European Union, raising the value of the Bulgarian passport. Bulgaria is blocking Macedonia from opening the EU accession talks.