SKOPJE, July 7 (BV) – North Macedonia’s political parties failed again to reach agreement on changes to the Electoral Code, leaving key reforms blocked amid disputes over diaspora voting, electoral districts and campaign financing.
The ruling VMRO-DPMNE said it was ready to accept proposals agreed among opposition parties if a model is found that would allow the diaspora to vote more widely.
SDSM rejected the government’s approach, saying it is not against diaspora voting but opposes models that could open the door to electoral abuse. The party warned that electronic or postal voting without strong safeguards could undermine trust in the process.
Levica proposed a compromise: one electoral district and postal voting for the diaspora only in presidential elections as a pilot project. The party argues that the current six-district model harms smaller parties and distorts representation.
DUI accused VMRO-DPMNE of retreating from previously agreed points, including electronic voting for the diaspora and the requirement that implementing rules be adopted by the State Election Commission by consensus.
The Albanian Alliance wing led by Ziadin Sela is pushing for eight electoral districts and diaspora voting by electronic or postal methods in presidential, parliamentary and local elections.
VLEN, a coalition partner in the government, insists that emigrants should be able to vote through a secure and transparent system, saying they should not be treated only as a source of remittances.
The deadline for adopting the new Electoral Code under the Reform Agenda expired on June 30, but Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has said there is still room for a deal by July 15.
Without political consensus, election reform remains stalled, while diaspora voting has become the central point of confrontation between the government and opposition.