Skopje, 16 August 2025 (MIA) - The Parliament at its 66th session on Saturday failed to adopt amendments to the Electoral Code regulating the percentage of signatures independent candidates have to collect to run in the local elections.  

The majority of the MPs backed the proposed amendments, but given that the bill concerns local elections, Badinter majority was also required. Eighteen MPs from smaller ethnic communities were against the proposed amendments, whereas 11 voted in favour. 

Earlier on Saturday, the Parliament decided to fast-track the amendments. The Committee on Political System and Inter-Community Relations and the Legislative Committee then debated on the amendments. The Parliamentary Committee on Political System and Inter-Community Relations forwarded the amendments for further procedure in Parliament, after adopting an amendment from Levica whereby to nominate lists of MP candidates of a group of voters, it is necessary to collect signatures from at least 0.5 percent of the total number of voters registered in the relevant electoral unit, instead the originally proposed 0.95 percent of the total number of registered voters. 

Photo: MIA