The announcement of a possible change to the state coat of arms divided the parties from the beginning and the key question is whether, even if VMRO-DPMNE secures a two-thirds majority, it will push the initiative without a secured consensus. After Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski confirmed that he opened the issue of changing the coat of arms with Vredi, for now it is only clear that there will be no opening of the Constitution just for that issue.
The ruling Vredi and the opposition DUI want the coat of arms changed, but in a package with other demands. The government partner ZNAM has not been asked so far, so it does not have a position, while the opposition SDSM has announced that it will vehemently oppose any change to the state coat of arms.
If Mickoski is determined to push the initiative, he will first need to iron out the positions within his own government, and then try to convince Filipche to change the state coat of arms.

A change that would reflect current reality

Bilal Kasami, one of the leaders of Vredi, says that he supports any changes to the Constitution that would change the state symbols associated with the past socio-political system and that a package of changes is needed. He adds that they support changes to the Constitution that would reflect the current reality of the country.

– In fact, in a previous public appearance, I said that one of the goals for naming the streets in the city of Tetovo was that the legacy of the previous system still stands, which is also the Prime Minister's explanation in the part about changing the coat of arms of the state. We are ready to discuss a package of constitutional amendments, where instead of the legacy of the previous system, it will reflect the current orientation of the state towards the European Union. We are ready to discuss, for sure, that it will be a public and transparent process – said Kasami.

A senior government official from Vredi told "Sloboden Pechat" that in addition to a new coat of arms, a new anthem and a change to the wording "20 percent" in Albanian are also needed.

– It is true that the coat of arms and the anthem are derived from communism. It is also true that 20 percent is humiliating for the Albanian language. We are discussing these topics, but now the priority is the implementation of the government program and priorities, such as European integration, the rule of law, economic development, decentralization – says the official.

A senior government official from VMRO-DPMNE told "Sloboden Pechat" that if there was an agreement to change the coat of arms, the Constitution would be opened only for that issue. The opening of the highest legal act in the country is not related to the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution, nor were there any discussions with Vredi about changing the wording "20 percent" to Albanian or about a new anthem.

ZNAM says that Mickoski has not raised the issue of changing the coat of arms with them so far and that once the Prime Minister speaks openly on the topic, they will state their position.
In addition to Vredi, the opposition DUI is also demanding an opening of the Constitution in a package. A senior DUI official told Sloboden Pechat that they are ready to debate changing the coat of arms, the anthem, changing the wording "20 percent" in Albanian, but also for a national flag of Macedonians that would be different from the state flag. According to the official, it is good to reach a consensus on changing the state symbols that should be acceptable to all citizens and ethnic communities, and for Macedonians to choose a national flag so that the state flag is respected by all citizens and communities.

SDSM is "fiercely against"

Despite the readiness of the Albanian political bloc to change the state symbols, the leader of SDSM, Venko Filipche, announced a fierce reaction against changing the coat of arms.

– We believe that the state coat of arms quite appropriately, first of all heraldically, reflects all the characteristics of this region. The continuity and benefits of the National Liberation and Anti-Fascist War are clear. There is no division in terms of ethnic groups and if there is such an initiative, we will most strongly oppose any change to the state coat of arms with all democratic means – said Filipche.

According to him, this is another in a series of unannounced and planned proposals by VMRO-DPMNE, which has been repeated before.

– That is a proposal that is now being repeated. Let me remind you that that proposal was on the table many years ago, during the last government, when they were in coalition with DUI.

At that time, it was part of a package of measures that had to be adopted. Specifically, I think that the first dilemma that arises is whether perhaps within the coalition with Vredi, by making this proposal to change the state coat of arms, there is no discussion about changing the anthem. And that is something that VMRO-DPMNE should respond to – said Filipche.

LDP: The lynx as a recognizable species should be on the new coat of arms

While the parties are circulating proposals for opening up the Constitution, whereby in addition to the coat of arms, other state symbols would also be changed, the LDP is in favor of changing the coat of arms and immediately came up with a proposal for the lynx to be the symbol for recognizing the Macedonian coat of arms.

– Placing the lynx on the new coat of arms, as a recognizable species, characteristic of our country. The lynx as a symbol is found on the metal five-denar coin, it is found on the national football jersey, but also in many other places and is protected by a large number of international conventions. If the lynx is placed, it shows a look to the future instead of going back and looking into the past. It is a symbol that will not remind you of any neighboring country and will not create problems. Only uniqueness, specialness, novelty, freshness, future and protection of one's own are acceptable, such as the Balkan lynx, which originates from Shar Planina, is a rare and protected animal, and is one of our national state symbols – say the LDP.

According to the LDP, the uniqueness of Macedonia must be the main guiding principle towards accepting any proposal for the state coat of arms. Moreover, it must be a solution that will satisfy all citizens of Macedonia, regardless of national, ethnic, party, religious or any other affiliation.

– We propose a generally acceptable solution. Because if we were all guided by our party symbols or positions, the LDP would adhere to the Macedonian flora and fauna and would propose placing the falcon as a unique Macedonian symbol and part of our Macedonian folklore. In addition to the fact that nine different species of falcons live in Macedonia, our folk music proudly sings of the falcon drinking water from our Vardar, a song that is also the anthem of the party – the LDP emphasizes.

"Sloboden Pechat" has already reported that VMRO-DPMNE and Vredi have discussed changing the state coat of arms. The Prime Minister confirmed that the parties from the ruling coalition VMRO-DPMNE and Vredi have raised the issue of changing the state coat of arms.

– We have opened this issue. We are one of the two post-socialist countries that still have the old state coat of arms, with some minor modifications – said Mickoski.