The Parliament of North Macedonia adopted at Friday’s plenary session the Declaration for Fair, Free and Democratic Local Elections, that are to take place this October.
The parliamentary declaration was submitted by Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi and party whips. It affirms voters’ right to a direct vote in a free and secret ballot and strongly condemns family and group voting as a means of manipulating citizens’ votes and influencing election results.
According to Gashi, the declaration showed all parties’ commitment to ensuring voters have equal and equitable conditions to freely elect their representatives in the municipalities and the capital.
A discussion over the declaration ensued, but it quickly turned into rude exchanges between MPs from parties of the Albanian political bloc, prompting SDSM MP Fatmir Bytyqi to request a 10-minute break with purpose, as he stated, to restore the Parliament’s dignity.