Failure to Adopt Electoral Code Costs North Macedonia 4.2 Million Euros from EU, Parties in Blame Game

The legal deadline for the adoption of the Electoral Code in Parliament, one of the obligations set out in the Reform Agenda, has expired, and as a result North Macedonia lost out on 4.2 million euros from European Union funds. In the period leading up to the deadline, political parties could not find common ground, while the debate focused mainly on the possibility of voting for citizens living abroad.

From VMRO-DPMNE’s ranks, they blame SDSM, Levica, and BDI for the failure to reach an agreement. According to them, a clear fear of a negative election result pushed these three forces to cooperate and block one of the most essential laws. “Even though the Government showed extraordinary readiness for consensus and left room for them to agree on everything, they chose obstruction,” said Valentin Manasievski, VMRO-DPMNE spokesperson.

The VLEN coalition stresses that the Electoral Code requires a broad pact among all parliamentary groups and that they themselves have always been open to talks with the opposition. Driton Sulejmani from VLEN highlighted that one of the key points for them remains the inclusion of the diaspora in the next electoral process. “Our stance was joined by our coalition partner, and we will continue to insist that expatriates have the opportunity to vote in their homeland,” added Sulejmani.

From SDSM’s camp, they describe the loss of 4.2 million euros as a negligible figure compared to the damage caused to the country by the Government’s blocking of the European path. Keti Shterjova, SDSM representative, stated that the ruling party deliberately pushed the Electoral Code with controversial points for electoral manipulation through the diaspora vote, in order to create the impression that the opposition is hindering European integration. “Mickoski’s policy isolates the state and denies citizens billions of euros,” stressed Shterjova.

Levica takes a different approach, denying that 4 million euros have been lost and highlighting another consequence of keeping the current Code in force. According to this party, VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM secured for themselves 10 million euros in public funds for paid political propaganda. “The silence conceals the fact that the political advertising system remains untouched, and the big parties will split this amount,” reads Levica’s response.

The Electoral Code represented the tenth obligation that the country had to fulfill under the Reform Agenda. Without its adoption, North Macedonia lost access to the 4.2 million euro installment from the European Union’s Growth Plan.