Elections, parties test, Euro-integration process

Sunday's local elections Appreciated as The Most Important Test for democratic processes in Macedonia, following last December's parliamentary elections and the formation of the new government four months later, with which the long political crisis in the country closed.

The continuation of the election process, according to political policy connoisseurs, is seen primarily as barometers if institutions have been consolidated after the serious crisis for organising free and democratic elections.

International representatives, money but even during the election campaign, have been clear in their calls, that the October 15th elections should be much better than early parliamentary elections in December.

“Macedonia, as never before, needs to be elected to prove that Macedonia is ready to be a membership candidate, start negotiations, become a NATO member and so on. So, we don't even have to think about it, and let irregularities happen any more in the overall election process, which should be in full accordance with all the international community's demands and recommendations”.

“This should enable the KSHZ, MPB, but also every citizen to testify that we are located on our way to the family of democracy-developed states, says Nikola Dujoski, professor of political system at the Faculty of Justice in Skopje.

Local elections on October 15th will be held in 80 municipalities and Skopje, as a special unit of local government with ten municipalities within it, but with limited competence. In the race for running these municipalities are 19 different political parties and coalitions, including independent candidates.

The main race takes place between two political blocs, the two Macedonian parties, the LSDM and the opposition VMRO DPMNE on the one hand, and the other Albanian bloc, DUI and other parties like the Besa Movement, DPA but also the Alliance for Albanians, which, even though in government, aims to challenge its ruling partner in this election, DUI.

Analyst Albert Musliu says local elections are also seen as the test for the popularity of political parties due to their close outcome in the December parliamentary elections.

For the two biggest political subjects, this election process is of particular importance. For the ruling party, the LSDM will be a reconfirmment for their reform or continuation of reforms, while for the opposition VMRO the importance of this process will be that of starting domestic reforms if elections or continuing controversial policy are lost if they achieve positive”, Musliu estimates.

He adds that the Albanian bloc will try to preserve or even increase the result against the two oldest parties, which in turn will try to restore the missing electorate.

As for the election campaign, he says it was more correct before all in Albanian parties, which for the first time have come up with offers and programmes, keeping track of their way of realisation.

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Voting Right There are about 1.8 million citizens in Sunday's elections, while the election process will be monitored by about 5 thousand local observers and about 400 foreigners.