Zaev: Population Census Will Not Abolish Diaspora’s Right to Vote

PM Zoran Zaev explained at a press conference that the results of the population census the government intends to conduct in April 2021 will not strip citizens living abroad from their right to vote in elections organised in Macedonia. “The census itself or the way it will be conducted will not affect in any way the right to vote of the citizens of North Macedonia that reside in foreign countries. Like in previous electoral cycles, citizens will be able to register for voting when election is taking place and will be able to cast their votes in the premises of diplomatic missions of our country in their respective countries,” Zaev said. In meantime on Tuesday, President of Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski held a meeting with Justice Minister Bojan Maricic and Director of the State Statistical office (SSO) Apostol Simovski, with whom he discussed the procedures and atmosphere for conducting the population census in April 2021. Justice Minister Maricic revealed that the population census will include a graph concerning the religious affiliation, after Bishop Peter from the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MOC) announced that MOC will call upon citizens to boycott the census if it does not include a graph for religion.