Social media users in North Macedonia have reacted with sarcasm after Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said the government was considering changes to the country’s coat-of-arms. The topic is highly sensitive in the multiethnic country.
While politicians discuss “serious” proposals, users on X have made their own mocking suggestions. One person proposed an emblem showing a pickpocketing scene, calling it a perfect symbol of the country’s corruption.
“The Macedonian coat-of-arms should have a left hand and a right pocket because the greedy politicians have stolen too much,” wrote X user “Man.”
Another user, “Goran,” posted an image of two men in suits exchanging bribes in front of an expensive gold frame.
Mickoski told reporters the discussion is still open after talks with the Vlen alliance, a group representing ethnic Albanians in the government. Vice-Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti confirmed no agreement has been reached.
The current coat-of-arms comes from the Soviet era. In 2009, the only change was the removal of a red Socialist star. A past proposal to replace it with a rampant red lion, similar to the ruling party’s symbol, failed due to disagreement.
The opposition Social Democrats say no change is needed, while the Liberal Democrats suggest a new emblem featuring a Balkan Lynx, a rare wild cat found in the region.
On social media, many dismissed the debate as pointless.
“Half the country is struggling to survive… but I guess a new coat-of-arms will pay their bills,” joked X user “Bapco.”
Another wrote: “This is like your car breaking down, and instead of fixing it, you decide to paint it a new color.”
With no agreement in sight, changing North Macedonia’s coat-of-arms may be harder than politicians expect.
