The constitutional modifications have to be a result of a political and social consensus, of a comprehensive analysis of how the legal system functions. They should not be partial and perhaps we should consider assuming an integral approach to changing the Constitution or drafting a completely new Constitution. Although being passed in the absence of the opposition, the modifications are legitimate for being proposed by the coalition that won the elections. These were some of the views expressed at Wednesday's expert debate organized by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) concerning the government-proposed constitutional modifications.

MANU President Vlado Kambovski said the act of modifying the Constitution should be an act of broadest and possibly consensual choice of all political entities and citizens.

"I believe this act significant for the constitutional and legal order of the state and its social system should be an occasion for normalizing relations in the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia so the proposed modifications would have full legitimacy and be a base for further talks," he said.