Self-Determination Issue: Mexhiti Says Domestic Nationals will Be Candidates

In response to the issue of Kosovo’s Self-Determination Movement as a fourth partner of the European Alliance for Changes coalition, which consists of BESA, Alternative, and Democratic Movement, experts have said that Kosovan PM Albin Kurti’s party cannot act politically in North Macedonia, Telma reported on Monday.

Article 8 of the Law on Political Parties says parties registered in other countries cannot act on the territory of North Macedonia. Asked about the matter, Democratic Movement leader Izet Mexhiti told Telma that the name “Self-Determination Movement” would not be on the list, which would use the name “European Alliance for Changes”.

Persons who support the Kosovo-based party and are North Macedonia nationals will be candidates. Mexhiti pointed to the example of Bekim Qoku from Struga, who’s Kurti’s North Macedonia Adviser, as well as a former member of Alliance for Albanians. He had been Kurti’s representative also at Sunday’s opening of an office in Skopje, when the cooperation was announced.

PM Dimitar Kovacevski finds the joining of forces unclear and therefore asked for clarification. VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, too, reiterated that only domestic nationals had the right to be part of election lists.