A tense situation is developing in the Parliament, where the ruling majority is trying to hold a late night vote on a law that would give a large settlement payment to Makpetrol – the company owning the largest chain of gas stations in the country.

VMRO-DPMNE members of Parliament have resorted to whistling, banging on tables and holding long speeches to prevent the vote. Under it, Makpetrol would be acknowledged as owner of half of the gas pipeline linking Macedonia to Bulgaria, and would be paid 33 million EUR for its share – almost twice as much as the official estimate.

This is utterly non-transparent behavior on the part of the Parliament. You’re trying to smuggle a law through Parliament, but we will stay here until the morning if necessary, said Nikola Micevski, head of the VMRO group in Parliament.

VMRO are joined by the Levica members of Parliament in opposition to the way the session is held. Speaker Talat Xhaferi tried to prevent VMRO member of Parliament Antonio Milososki from live-streaming the disturbance on his Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1332934903713226&ref=watch_permalink&t=83

Makpetrol also owns the Telma TV station, which recently canceled an already scheduled interview with opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski. This, according to VMRO, is evidence that part of the lucrative deal is to wholly turn Telma, which is already supportive of the Zaev regime, into a Government mouthpiece.