| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) (from/to) | 1 June 2008
29 June 2008 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all seats in the Assembly following the premature dissolution of this body on 12 April 2008. Elections had previously been held on 5 July 2006. |
On 11 April 2008
the Assembly of the Republic voted to dissolve itself
paving the way for early elections for the first time since the country gained independence in 1991. Speaker Ljubisha Georgievski subsequently called elections for 1 June
almost two years earlier than they were statutorily due.
In the previous elections held in July 2006
the 14 party coalition led by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO DPMNE
see note 1) won 45 of the 120 seats in the Assembly of the Republic. The "Together for Macedonia" coalition led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM)
took 32 seats
while the Albanian Democratic Union for Integration Party for Democratic Prosperity Coalition (DUI PDP) obtained 17 seats.
President Branko Crvenkovsi (SDSM) subsequently designated the VMRO DPMNE leader
Mr. Nikola Gruevski
as Prime Minister. He formed a coalition government comprising the VMRO DPMNE
the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA
11 seats)
the New Social Democratic Party (NSDP a breakaway from the SDSM
seven seats) and some non partisan members.
Although the 2006 elections went off in relative peace in the ethnic Albanian community (which accounts for a quarter of the country's 2.1 million inhabitants)
the rivalry between the DPA and the DUI was re ignited following Prime Minister Gruevski's decision to include only the smaller DPA in the coalition government. The DUI led street protests in a bid to join the government. It boycotted the parliament for most of 2007
finally returning in late 2007 after the government agreed to pass several remaining laws that related to the Ohrid Framework Agreement (a peace deal signed by the government and the Albanian community in 2001).
Political turmoil continued in 2008. On 14 March
the DPA
which had been demanding six new rights for the Albanian community (see note 2)
withdrew from the government for ten days in protest at the government's decision not to recognize Kosovo (which declared independence from Serbia in February). On 2 April
the country's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) faced a veto by Greece due to a row over the use of the country's name. Prime Minister Gruevski had pledged to use the name "Republic of Macedonia"
as written in the country's constitution. Greece
which has a northern province with the same name
had refused the name for fear of an eventual territorial claim and insisted that the name should be changed to "New Macedonia" or "Upper Macedonia".
On 8 April
the DUI leader Mr. Ali Ahmeti submitted a motion to dissolve the parliament for early elections. The DUI argued that the government had no capacity to negotiate the country's new name with Greece. Prime Minister Gruevski argued that he needed a stronger force in parliament to push forward the country's accession to NATO and the European Union (EU). The opposition SDSM criticized the call for early elections
arguing that greater priority should be given to implementing remaining reforms required to join those organizations and insisting that the VMRO DPMNE was trying to use the anti Hellenic mood to boost its support. President Crvenkovsi emphasized that the country needed political stability and a consensus between ethnic Macedonians and Albanians. In the end
the motion was supported by 70 members from the DUI
the VMRO DPMNE and the DPA
thus paving the way for the early elections. The SDSM and the NSDP boycotted the vote.
Two major coalitions contested the 2008 elections. Prime Minister Gruevski's VMRO DPMNE formed an electoral coalition "For a Better Macedonia" comprising 18 small parties (see note 3). It focused on the government's achievements
citing 5 per cent GDP growth in 2007
the highest since the country achieved independence. Prime Minister Gruevski claimed that his policy of combating organized crime had contributed to the country's economic development. He stressed that the country's future was in the EU and NATO. He also promised to cooperate with the party that won a majority of the vote in the Albanian community.
SDSM leader and former Deputy Prime Minister
Ms. Radmila Sekerinska
led the "Sun Coalition for Europe"
composed of the SDSM and seven parties (see note 4) including the NSDP. Ms. Sekerinska pledged to work for a quick resolution to the "name" row with Greece so as to enable the country's immediate accession to the NATO. She also promised to obtain a recommendation for EU accession talks within six months if the coalition won the elections.
On 14 April
DUI leader Ahmeti dismissed rumours that he intended to form an electoral coalition with his party's rival
the DPA. He argued that his party had stronger support among ethnic Albanians and therefore
such a coalition would not be beneficial. Finally
the DPA
led by Mr. Menduh Thaci
as well as another Albanian party
the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP
which had been in coalition with the DUI in the 2006 elections)
fielded candidates separately in 2008.
Organizing peaceful elections was a key criterion for the country's bid for accession to the EU and NATO. However
violence was rife during the election campaign
mainly among the Albanian community. According to the Interior Ministry
on election day
gun battles between rival Albanian groups killed one person
while eight others were injured. Twenty one people were arrested.
On 1 June
57.06 per cent of the 1.7 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The voting at 22 polling stations was suspended due to acts of intimidation
and the results of almost all polling stations in three constituencies were invalidated. Prime Minister Gruevski blamed the DUI and the DPA for the violent incidents and claimed that such violence tarnished the country's reputation.
The State Election Commission (SEC) reviewed appeals by the DUI
the DPA
the PDP
the Sun Coalition
and other small parties
and ordered re runs to be held on 15 June in 187 of the 2
976 polling stations. In addition
elections for six seats were repeated on 29 June. Turnout for the re runs was recorded at 48.90 per cent and 41.30 per cent respectively.
The Organization for Security and Co operation in Europe/Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) formed the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The IEOM concluded that
while well administered
the elections did not meet certain key commitments of the OSCE and the Council of Europe. It urged the State to take substantial measures to hold accountable those responsible for violence and election related offences.
The final results gave Prime Minister's VMRO DPMNE Coalition a majority in parliament with 63 seats. The Sun Coalition came in second with 27. The DUI won 18 seats
while the DPA took 11. In all
34 women were elected.
On 21 June
the newly elected Assembly of the Republic held its first session and elected Mr. Trajko Veljanoski (VMRO DPMNE) as its new Speaker.
On 23 June
President Crvenkovski requested outgoing Prime Minister Gruevski to form a new government.
Note 1:
The VMRO-DPMNE Coalition (in the 2006 elections) included the following parties:
- VMRO-DPMNE
- Liberal Party of Macedonia
- Socialist Party of Macedonia
- Democratic Union
- Party for Movement of Turks in Macedonia
- Union of Roma in Macedonia
- Party of Democratic Action of Macedonia - SDA
- Party of Vlachs of Macedonia
- European Party of Macedonia
- Green Party
- People's Movement of Macedonia
- Democratic Party of the Bosniaks
- Party of Democratic Forces of Roma in Macedonia
- Party for Roma Integration
Note 2:
The six new rights included larger quotas for Albanians in the State administration
placing the Albanian flag together with the national flag in front of State institutions
wider use of the Albanian language
and the rehabilitation of the former fighters of the Army for National Liberation that had staged a revolt in the northwest of the country in 2001.
Note 3:
The VMRO-DPMNE - "For a Better Macedonia" coalition included the following parties:
- VMRO-DPMNE
- Socialist Party of Macedonia
- Democratic Union
- Democratic Renewal of Macedonia
- Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia
- Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia
- Union of Roma in Macedonia
- VMRO - Macedonian
- United Party for Emancipation
- Party of Justice
- Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia
- Party of Vlachs in Macedonia
- Party for the Integration of Roma
- People's Movement for Macedonia
- Bosniacs' Democratic Party
- Party of Greens
- Democratic Union of Roma
- Party of Workers and Farmers of Macedonia
- Party for the Full Emancipation of Roma
Note 4:
The "Sun - Coalition for Europe" comprised the following parties:
- Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM)
- New Social Democratic Party (NSDP)
- Liberal Democratic Party
- Liberal Party of Macedonia
- New Alternative
- Green Party of Macedonia
- Party of Pensioners of the Republic of Macedonia
- Democratic Union of Vlachs in Macedonia |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 (from/to) | 1 June 2008
29 June 2008 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
1'779'116
1'015'164 (57.06%)
28'173
986'991 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| VMRO-DPMNE - "For a Better Macedonia" Coalition |
|
481'501 |
|
|
48.78 |
|
|
| "Sun - Coalition for Europe" |
|
233'284 |
|
|
23.64 |
|
|
| Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) |
|
126'522 |
|
|
12.82 |
|
|
| Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDA) |
|
81'557 |
|
|
8.26 |
|
|
| Party for European Future (PEI) |
|
14'477 |
|
|
1.47 |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| VMRO-DPMNE - "For a Better Macedonia" Coalition |
63
|
|
|
|
|
| "Sun - Coalition for Europe" |
27
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) |
18
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDA) |
11
|
|
|
|
|
| Party for European Future (PEI) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
86
34
28.33%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
21 to 30 years
31 to 40 years
41 to 50 years
51 to 60 years
61 to 70 years
Over 70 years
|
11
33
49
18
7
2
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
| Legal profession |
29 |
| Education profession |
27 |
| Economist |
16 |
| Architect
surveyor
engineer |
15 |
| Other |
14 |
| Physician
dentist |
14 |
| Agriculture/farming |
3 |
| Armed services/Police |
1 |
| Journalism
broadcasting
media |
1 |
|
| Comments |
Note on distribution of seats according to sex:
Thirty-four women were elected in June 2008. However
after the formation of the new government in July
the total number of women parliamentarians increased to 38 (31.67 per cent).
Sources:
- http://www.sec.mk:90/english/
- Assembly of the Republic (26.06.2008
30.06.2008
13.08.2008
17.02.2009
01.01.2010) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
