Tetovo, 2 June 2024 (MIA) - The European Front coalition adopted on Sunday in Tetovo a political declaration on ethnic electoral legitimacy, which is to be sent to all local and international institutions.

The declaration was signed by all parties that make up the European Front coalition including Democratic Union for Integration, People's Movement, Democratic Party of Albanians, European Democratic Party, Democratic Party of Turks, the Union of Roma and the Bosniak Democratic Union.

After the addresses by all party leaders, the declaration was read by the DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, which was unanimously adopted. The leaders of the parties signed the declaration in the Cultural Center in Tetovo, after which other party officials will sign it.

In the explanation of the declaration, it was pointed out that the events and steps following the parliamentary and presidential elections on May 8, 2024, question the spirit of the Ohrid Agreement. According to them, the result of this is a return to the familiar policy of 'divide and rule.'

"We reiterate our Euro-Atlantic course as the only alternative for the common future of North Macedonia and our commitment to fully implementing the norms and spirit of the Ohrid Agreement, the Prespa Agreement, and the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation and resolving all open issues with our neighbors, as a precondition for continuing on the European path. We emphasize the necessity of implementing consensual democracy in accordance with the spirit of the Ohrid Agreement and the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia. We reiterate that the government's coalition partners must be determined by the political will of the two largest communities in the country, the Albanians and the Macedonians, as well as the legitimate representatives of other communities, expressed through free, fair, and democratic elections, in the form of customary law implemented in our country, which enables legitimacy, functional democracy, social cohesion, consensus, and fair representation in decision-making. Therefore, democracy in our country can be functional and stable only when the majority community respects the legitimate representatives of the political will of Albanians, Turks, Roma, Bosniaks, and other communities,” as stated in the declaration.

According to Ahmeti, who read the declaration, consensual democracy means organizing communities into political parties and participating in elections to gain legitimacy for their compatriots, and this will of our communities must therefore be respected by the prime minister-designate.

“Disregarding legitimacy enables the establishment of ethnic hegemony and represents a degradation towards Albanians, Turks, Roma, Bosniaks, and others. This monoethnic majority, which undermines the legitimacy of other ethnic communities, burdens coexistence and democracy, and we should not allow it altogether. We, the domestic forces and the international community, as guarantors of the Ohrid Agreement and facilitators of the May deal, cannot allow a regression, the nullification of previous common achievements, and we must prevent a recurrence of disrespect for political will and legitimacy. Because we all bear responsibility for the peace, security, and stability of our country and the region,” as stated in the political declaration.

Photo: European Front