SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
The OSCE/ODIHR Mission for observation of the 2019 presidential election held a press conference on Monday presenting its conclusions about the electoral conditions in Macedonia during the 2nd round of the presidential election. “This election cycle has now been brought to a successful conclusion, with voters freely able to choose between distinct choices. Yesterday’s increased voter turnout shows determination by the population to unite and address the challenges facing this country. It is now up to the political leadership to hear this message and undertake real reform that will replace the legal patchwork requiring constant political agreements with a coherent and sustainable electoral law,” said Sereine Mauborgne, Special Co-ordinator and leader of the OSCE short-term observer mission. The head of the PACE Delegation that monitored the election Marie-Christine Dalloz said that the voting in the 2nd round of the election was organised very well and people could make their choice freely. “The PACE delegation considers that some recurrent problems in the electoral process remain unaddressed, in particular, the need to reform the electoral code and, in general, the political system, to re-engage citizens and to ensure their active participation, regardless of ethnic origin. In addition, it is crucial to strengthen the transparency and control of election campaign funding. The issue of EU and NATO membership should not be allowed to obscure recurrent problems in the electoral process,” Dalloz said. The international observers, however, expressed serious concerns over the legal framework. While the law does allow for democratic elections, the regulatory gaps already evident on issues such as campaigning, media advertising, campaign finance and voter registration remain unaddressed.
