Newsroom
Elections improve in former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, but fall short on commitments
SKOPJE 25 September 2000
SKOPJE, 25 September 2000 - The 24 September second-round municipal elections in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia showed improvement in some areas, but still fell short on a number of OSCE commitments. These were the preliminary findings of the Election Observation Mission deployed by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR).
In its statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued today, the Election Observation Mission expressed concern that a number of serious security incidents took place, although these did not reach the levels of violence that marred the first round of elections. While voting took place in a calm and orderly manner in most municipalities, including Debar in the west where the worst of the first-round incidents took place, tensions, major irregularities, acts of intimidation and violence marked a number of areas where the mayoral contests were closely contested. Ballot boxes were destroyed in at least 14 polling stations. The most serious incidents were reported from Strumica, Struga, Ohrid and some Skopje municipalities.
The election campaign between the two rounds of voting was generally low key, and overall noticeably quieter than before the first round. The media gave extensive, generally accurate and informed coverage to election activities before the second round and on election day. However, the national public broadcaster, Macedonian Television, continued to favour indirectly the ruling parties.
The Election Observation Mission identified the following shortcomings in the preparations and conduct of the elections:
OSCE/ODIHR will monitor the follow-up to the election and stands ready to assist the Government in addressing the concerns highlighted in the preliminary statements of 11 and 25 September.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE OBSERVATION MISSION
The Election Observation Mission, headed by Ambassador Charles Magee (USA), issued the attached statement before the final certification of the election results and before a complete analysis of the observation findings. OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive and final report approximately one month after the completion of the electoral process.
The preliminary statement is based on the observations of election preparations and the campaign by 17 election experts deployed throughout the country for seven weeks, and 80 short-term observers from 21 OSCE Participating states monitoring the process on election day in over 500 polling stations in 61 municipalities. In addition, the Election Observation Mission monitored two television channels and seven daily newspapers for a period of six weeks.
For further information, please contact: Ambassador Charles Magee, Head of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Skopje, Tel.: +389-91-118-080; Fax: +389-91-130-422, or Konrad Olszewski, OSCE/ODIHR Election Officer, Warsaw, Poland, Tel.: +48-22-520-0600; Fax: +48-22-628-6967.
In its statement of preliminary findings and conclusions issued today, the Election Observation Mission expressed concern that a number of serious security incidents took place, although these did not reach the levels of violence that marred the first round of elections. While voting took place in a calm and orderly manner in most municipalities, including Debar in the west where the worst of the first-round incidents took place, tensions, major irregularities, acts of intimidation and violence marked a number of areas where the mayoral contests were closely contested. Ballot boxes were destroyed in at least 14 polling stations. The most serious incidents were reported from Strumica, Struga, Ohrid and some Skopje municipalities.
The election campaign between the two rounds of voting was generally low key, and overall noticeably quieter than before the first round. The media gave extensive, generally accurate and informed coverage to election activities before the second round and on election day. However, the national public broadcaster, Macedonian Television, continued to favour indirectly the ruling parties.
The Election Observation Mission identified the following shortcomings in the preparations and conduct of the elections:
- The State Election Commission continued to interpret its mandate in a generally restrictive manner, for example not issuing complete results for the first round.
- Slow tabulation of results and delays in handling some complaints and appeals resulted in some second rounds, and first-round reruns, not being able to take place on 24 September.
- The funds for election expenses allocated between the rounds by the Finance Ministry to almost all municipalities reached only a very few municipalities by the second-round election day.
OSCE/ODIHR will monitor the follow-up to the election and stands ready to assist the Government in addressing the concerns highlighted in the preliminary statements of 11 and 25 September.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE OBSERVATION MISSION
The Election Observation Mission, headed by Ambassador Charles Magee (USA), issued the attached statement before the final certification of the election results and before a complete analysis of the observation findings. OSCE/ODIHR will issue a comprehensive and final report approximately one month after the completion of the electoral process.
The preliminary statement is based on the observations of election preparations and the campaign by 17 election experts deployed throughout the country for seven weeks, and 80 short-term observers from 21 OSCE Participating states monitoring the process on election day in over 500 polling stations in 61 municipalities. In addition, the Election Observation Mission monitored two television channels and seven daily newspapers for a period of six weeks.
For further information, please contact: Ambassador Charles Magee, Head of OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, Skopje, Tel.: +389-91-118-080; Fax: +389-91-130-422, or Konrad Olszewski, OSCE/ODIHR Election Officer, Warsaw, Poland, Tel.: +48-22-520-0600; Fax: +48-22-628-6967.