Mickoski: There Is Still Room for an Agreement on How the Diaspora Will Vote

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, said today that he expects the EU report for June to be the best one yet, just as the December report was.

He repeated his call on the opposition to hold talks on the Electoral Code, stressing that there is still a chance for it to be adopted and for the tenth step to be completed within the set deadline.

Speaking from the “Ilinden” barracks, where he took part in the presentation of new military equipment, Mickoski said he expects the country to once again rank among the best in the June report, just as it did in the December report. He said he was pleased and encouraged by information published yesterday by a European media outlet, according to which statements by senior European politicians are increasing in support of adding extra funding for three countries from the Western Balkans 6 group that are the most advanced in implementing the reform agenda. According to him, priorities are now being defined and, if the country is included among those three countries, which he said he expects, then those priorities will be presented.

Regarding the amendments and additions to the Electoral Code, the Prime Minister assessed that the text is fully in line with the recommendations of the OSCE and ODIHR, but added that, in his view, the opposition is showing an irresponsible approach.

He again expressed readiness to discuss the issue of diaspora voting and how this process can be improved.

Mickoski said he is ready to sit down again for talks on diaspora voting, with the aim of finding a solution to include the diaspora more broadly. He stressed that, although dozens of countries around the world are implementing electronic voting and he has the fully developed Estonian model in mind, it is acceptable for this not to remain an option from the 2029 presidential elections onward. According to him, the objections stem from fear that they will then be in opposition and that the elections could be stolen from them again, adding that they believe everyone behaves the same way they themselves behaved. Nevertheless, he said he is ready to talk again to find a model that would significantly expand diaspora voting while also saving money.

He added that any form could be considered, whether by ballot, by mail, or any other method, so long as a solution is found to make diaspora voting more intensive and more accessible. As for all the other demands of the opposition, Mickoski said that they, as the largest political party, will accept them without discussion.