“They should agree among themselves on all the differences they have on four key issues, because we see that their platforms are the same but they differ in the details. They should sit down and agree on a single electoral district, on the financing model, on complaints and the way they would be acceptable, and also sit down and agree on the model of diaspora voting. Everything that the opposition parties offer to us through a draft law, we will accept,” said Bojan Stojanoski of VMRO-DPMNE.

From VLEN, Bekim Qoku stressed that for his political bloc it is important that the diaspora have the right to vote, whether electronically or by post, but on condition that the process is secure, transparent and reliable, in line with international standards.

However, the opposition rejects the assessment that there is any closeness in positions among its parties. Disagreements are visible both over the electoral model, where one side is demanding a single electoral district or a single electoral district with open lists and a threshold, while the other side insists on 8 electoral districts, and over the method of diaspora voting, whether it should be conducted online or by mail. For this reason, opposition parties appear pessimistic about the possibility of finding common ground.

“VMRO-DPMNE withdrew from two essential points of the agreement, first from electronic diaspora voting, by demanding that voting be conducted by mail. And second, from the agreement that the SEC’s bylaws related to electronic diaspora voting be adopted by consensus, by demanding that they be adopted by a majority vote. 40:36 Honestly, we have our doubts that this is a game being played behind the scenes and, honestly, I have to say that the final goal has been for an agreement never to be reached, for consensus never to be reached, and to continue with the old Electoral Code,” said Rina Ajdari of DUI.

Ziadin Sela of the Alliance for Albanians said that SDSM and Levica are against electronic diaspora voting, while they support the diaspora voting electronically in presidential, parliamentary and local elections. According to him, in parliamentary elections the diaspora should vote for an electoral district here, adding that these are not minor differences but diametrically opposed positions and, in his view, they amount to tactical maneuvers to shift the blame onto someone else.

On the other hand, Borislav Krmov of Levica said that, in their view, if anything should be discussed, then the focus should be on a single electoral district and not on advancing the diaspora voting system. He stressed that this issue appeared suddenly, somewhere in the last 3 meetings, which according to him means it was introduced as a “poison pill” into the whole situation in order to block the entire process.

SDSM MP Jovanka Trenchevska said the truth is that everything is a lie by Mickoski and VMRO-DPMNE, adding that in her view they have neither the capacity for consensus nor a sincere aim for political dialogue. She stressed that SDSM has nothing to agree on with the opposition, because, according to her, the problem lies with the government, with Mickoski, who wants to manipulate 200,000 votes.

The possibility of further meetings has not been ruled out, but for the moment the parties have still not set a specific date. Efforts to reach consensus between the government and the opposition are aimed at adopting the Electoral Code and unblocking it, after thousands of amendments proposed by the opposition. /Alsat/

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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.

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He stressed that SDSM will always remain constructive on laws of this kind, but not if that means, as he put it, opening the door to electoral theft.

Filipche questioned the proposed voting model for the diaspora, saying it does not guarantee equal conditions for all voters.

“Why should there be different voting for the diaspora and for people who live in the country? Why should we leave fingerprints here, while someone else should vote electronically or by mail? Let them vote equally, the way we all vote,” he said.

According to Filipche, with such proposals the Government is unfairly placing citizens in the diaspora under suspicion that they could be connected to possible electoral irregularities.

He also expressed reservations about the proposed changes to the powers of the State Election Commission, saying it makes no sense for the SEC to be limited to making decisions only on complaints entered into the official record.

Filipche also raised doubts about the proposed changes to the way the ballot is marked, assessing that they could open space for different interpretations and possible abuses.

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Speaking about the new Electoral Code, which is entering parliamentary procedure, Arsovski emphasizes that the state reason for allowing the diaspora to vote electronically is linked to the fact that some citizens live far from diplomatic and consular missions. According to him, if they are not given this opportunity, they would effectively be prevented from exercising their right to vote, even though they are entitled to that right as citizens.

The point being opposed the most by one segment of the opposition is precisely the inclusion of electronic voting for citizens who are outside the country. The proposed solution envisages that the diaspora will no longer vote physically at diplomatic and consular missions, but will instead be able to cast their vote through the electronic system of the State Election Commission.

In a statement to “Lokalno,” Arsovski says that the political motive in this case lies in the fact that the party currently in power has traditionally received far more votes from the diaspora than the current opposition.

He adds that if this right is recognized for citizens living abroad, then it should also be guaranteed to citizens living inside the country. According to Arsovski, Macedonia is small enough to implement electronic voting for all of its residents, even if it is carried out electronically at polling stations, considering that today remote voting can be conducted without difficulty./Telegrafi/

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Deputy Speaker of Parliament Antonijo Miloshoski assigned the Committee on Political System and Inter-Community Relations as the main working body, while the Legislative and Legal Committee will also convene to review the draft law.

The initiative was submitted to Parliament by MPs Antonijo Miloshoski, Zeqirija Tairi, Daniel Stojçevski, Blerim Bexheti and Ivanka Vasilevska. Among the solutions envisaged in the amendments are electronic voting for the diaspora, as well as changes in the segment of state financing for parties.

Explaining why the Electoral Code should be adopted under a fast-track procedure, the proposer stressed that its content had been discussed for four months within the Ministry of Justice. Representatives of political parties took part in these talks, with the exception of SDSM, which was initially involved and later withdrew.

Miloshoski stated that during these discussions, agreement was reached on 28 ODIHR recommendations, which were accepted by consensus. According to him, in the working group at the Ministry of Justice there was no outvoting on any issue, and decision-making was always carried out by mutual agreement. He added that these topics could also be discussed in parliamentary sessions and committees.

Regarding the electoral model, Miloshoski said that the majority of political parties had expressed support for a single electoral district, while two parties supported the model with eight and three districts. Since no consensus was reached on this, the current solution of six electoral districts remains in force.

On diaspora voting, Miloshoski clarified that agreement had been reached for it to be made possible according to the practice of France and Estonia, through secure and protected electronic voting.

He also stressed that major assistance in this process came from representatives of the State Election Commission, the State Audit Office, the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, and the Anti-Corruption Commission. According to him, these institutions presented their proposals, most of which were accepted, on how to amend the Electoral Code in the service of developing democratic, fair, transparent and efficient elections.

Regarding the model for the use of funds for election advertising, Miloshoski said that unanimous consensus had been reached on this issue.

He assessed that in this process there was not a single case in which one party outvoted another, or in which certain representatives of political parties ignored the proposals of their colleagues. According to Miloshoski, the consensus reached by most of the parties that participated in the Working Group at the Ministry of Justice should be considered an important achievement and progress in the norms of the Electoral Code.

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However, these provisions will enter into force starting with the next presidential elections in 2029. The proposals have been signed by VMRO-DPMNE, VLEN, ZNAM, and DUI.

At a press conference held today, SDSM leader Venko Filipce announced that his party will block the adoption of the proposed Electoral Code. According to him, it contains serious solutions that are neither European nor democratic, while leaving room for abuse in the electoral process.

“This Parliament should not pass such a law. We will block it because citizens deserve to have a fair and democratic electoral process, not the controlled one that Hristijan Mickoski began to impose by following the example of his mentor, undoubtedly an idol, Nikola Gruevski. We will block this law in Parliament,” Filipce said.

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SDSM leader Venko Filipce announced at today’s press conference that his party will block the proposed Electoral Code, arguing that it contains serious provisions which, according to him, are neither democratic nor European, while leaving room for abuse of the electoral process.

He stated that, although SDSM withdrew from the working group for drafting the Electoral Code, the government continued preparing the law and submitted a version that, according to him, raises serious doubts about the conduct of a fair electoral process.

According to Filipce, one of the most problematic points of this text is the provision for electronic voting for the diaspora, without clearly defined mechanisms for identity verification and without legal guarantees for the security of the entire process.

“This Assembly should not adopt such a law. We will block it because citizens deserve to have a fair and democratic electoral process, and not the controlled one that Hristijan Mickoski began to impose by following the example of his mentor, undoubtedly an idol, Nikola Gruevski. We will block this law in the Assembly,” said Filipce.

Filipce clarified that the reason for SDSM’s withdrawal from the working group was related to the way the government had earlier adopted the Law on Government, without reaching consensus with the opposition and by changing the rules for the functioning of the Przhino government.

“The introduction of the Przhino government a decade ago, and then again in 2018, was done by consensus, at that time with the presence and active participation of the international community, our strategic partners, the United States of America and the European Union. And now the government has changed the Law on Government in a sneaky way, in the same autocratic and regime-style manner as 10 years ago,” said Filipce.

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