Dilems over referendum question in Macedonia

The issues that need to be harmonised have to do with the form of referendum and the question that must be posed. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, after a meeting with leaders Wednesday, in which the opposition did not participate, said his position, as well as the parties that have participated in that meeting, is that the referendum is consultative, while the question is roughly in the form that “A are for Macedonia's membership in NATO and the EU with the accession of the Agreement with Greece?”

Opposition VMRO DPMNE leader Hristian Mickovski has not commented on the details after the second meeting Thursday, but has said that on this issue so sensitive and important for the country's future, there should be no fraud, but that the question must be concrete.

Differences in attitudes on the referendum question are also among the connoisseurs of political and judicial issues in the country.

Vladi Bozinovski from the Institute for Political Investigations in Skopje tells Radio Free Europe that in the referendum question published by the prime minister sees “trik” of power, as the essence of the agreement, according to him, has nothing to do with integration, but with changing the name of the state.

Bozinovski says it creates speculation among citizens, as for some it may be for Euro-Atlantic membership but not for changing the name of the state. It comes out with a new word of referendum question.

“A are for changing the constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, the Republic of Northern Macedonia and accepting other provisions of the agreement, with the aim of Macedonia's NATO accession and the start of membership talks with the European Union. That would be the question, which in the methodologically would be impartial and clear for citizens to decide according to their beliefs”, Bozinovski says.

But, Temelko Ristevski, connoisseur of constitutional law, for Radio Free Europe says the question of the referendum published by the prime minister should be acceptable, as it reflects the strategic goal of the country's citizens.

“As for the wording of the referendum question, it is understood whether this is the case, that you are for Macedonia's membership in NATO and the EU with the acceptance of the agreement with Greece, I think it is about a well-lit question, as the goal of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, and most citizens is the country's membership in NATO and the EU. From such a point of view and given the fact that the agreement with Greece enables the realisation of this goal of the citizens of Macedonia, then I think that such a formula is correct,”, Ristevski estimates.

But, he says power should respect any decision coming out of the referendum, despite the question that might contain the ballot sheet.

The citizenship must respect the will of citizens. The referendum, based on constitutional definitions, can be consultative and binding. The government has warned that it will be consultancy, but even in this case the citizens' vote has the weight greater than any other decision. So even if he is a consultant and their decision is negative, power should respect that, even though this would complicate the” situation, says Temelko Ristevski, the expert on constitutional issues.

Edsim Sinani from the Balkan International Research and Research Centre does not comment on the referendum question, but emphasises the inevitable need for the agreement with Greece to be implemented without speculation.

The “is an international agreement that solves problems between the two states, and in exchange, citizens of Macedonia earn their European and Euro-Atlantic future. It is a painful but necessary and important agreement for the future not only of the IRJM, but also of the Balkans in general”, Sinan considers.

The party's upcoming meeting on the referendum issue, but on other aspects, in particular for the election of members of the State Election Commission, is expected to be held on Sunday or Monday.

Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has said he hopes the referendum and constitutional changes will be conducted later by the end of the year, or the first part of January 2019, that Greece will be able to ratify the pre-election agreement to be held in this country in the first part of next year.