The attempt to change the Electoral Code has failed, something on which we have invested a lot of effort and energy over a long period of time. We refrain from sharing the views of VMRO-DPMNE because we respected the gentleman agreement that existed between the political parties within the Parliament not to disclose details to the public during the talks, said VMRO-DPMNE Vice President Aleksandar Nikoloski.
But having in mind, added Nikoloski, that many details were presented to the public and VMRO-DPMNE was practically the only political party that respects this word, we would like to present our positions.
“We consider it extremely problematic that the local elections in October this year will be the first elections to be held in Macedonia without making changes to the Electoral Code by consensus between all political parties in accordance with the OSCE/ODIHR recommendations,” Nikoloski said.
Nikoloski says that it is detrimental to Macedonian democracy and calls into question the credibility of the election process as well as its legality and legitimacy.
He said that VMRO-DPMNE had two essential demands in the talks, those demands were to literally implement the OSCE/ODHR recommendations, and the second election of mayors and councilors in the first round because the main manipulations, pressures and undemocratic means occur between the two rounds.
“Unfortunately, the second request for the election of mayors in one round was rejected by the government, and the first request for the implementation of the OSCE and ODIHR recommendations did not occur under various pretexts of the ruling parties. If the Electoral Code were amended, in accordance with the recommendations of the OSCE and the ODIHR, many goals would be achieved, above all, the accountability, transparency and control of state resources would be increased with the new recommendations where the SCPC should be fully informed about the overall use of state resources. ”
