Skopje, 18 January 2024 (MIA) - State Election Commission (SEC) President Aleksandar Dashtevski says the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections on April 24 and May 8 will be successfully administered and expects them to be democratic. The SEC chair says in an interview with MIA that the double elections will be more difficult but is certain in their successful implementation considering the experience of the SEC staff.

Dashtevski says SEC started the preparations for the presidential and parliamentary elections almost a year ago.

"We started to prepare nearly a year ago because some procurement procedures require more time. We have to do this because for us, elections are not Election Day but way ahead of it," says Dashtevski.

According to him, the fact that SEC is missing one member does not affect the preparations but adds it would be nice if a member was elected "so he/she familiarizes with the Commission's operations".

"Nevertheless, we will do our job even If a member is not elected. I consider the current SEC composition as the best since establishment," says Dashtevski and adds that in case a member is not elected, political parties can nominate more observers in electoral boards in order to be certain in the process.

Regarding the difference related to deadlines between these elections and previous ones, the SEC chief certain activities will overlap but it helps to have two instead of three rounds.

"For example, the diaspora will go to vote twice not three times, materials will be distributed for both elections at the same time etc. I believe we will successfully administer the elections, although they are double," says Dashtevski.

He notes that the election campaign will begin upon completion of the data check in the Electoral Register, but citizens can do this on their own as well.

"I urge citizens to report changes that took place in the meantime, for example, if a person has passed away. We have a website where you can easily check if you are in the Electoral Register, check about a family member - maybe they have moved abroad, became an adult or for other reasons," says Dashtevski.

On the voting of the diaspora, the SEC president says the country should think about finding a simpler and cheaper way in the future.

"We have electoral boards that cost a lot and must stay for two weeks at the place of voting. The state is paying for all of this. Eventually, there are a dozen of voters and the same number of electoral board members. So, about EUR 1 million in costs for a total of 4,000-5,000 votes," says Dashtevski.

The double elections will cost about EUR 12 million, possibly rising up to EUR 15 million due to unpredictable costs.

The SEC chief expects good cooperation with the caretaker government, noting "we have arranged the issue of elections in such a way that government intervention is not much needed".

Asked if the number of voters in the Electoral Register is similar to the one at the last elections (about 1.8 million), Dashtevski says it is now lower but the exact number will be known after the Register's updating prior to the elections.

"The Electoral Register is updated during the entire period between elections. We get the data from the Ministry of Interior and courts on a quarterly basis. Citizens are also able to check data at our website, which facilitates the updating process as well," says Dashtevski.

On the expectations of a "dirty" election campaign, the SEC President says things have calmed down recently after the date for the elections was agreed, and "we are getting ready for democratic elections, which is a prerequisite for the EU accession negotiations".

Elizabeta Veljanovska Najdeska

Photo: Darko Popov

Video: Asllan Vishko