Skopje, 25 August 2025 (MIA) - State Election Commission (SEC) member Ditmire Shehu told MIA Monday she has filed a lawsuit at the Administrative Court over the guideline adopted by the Commission concerning the number of municipal council members.

The lawsuit comes after the Government forwarded a decision to the SEC regarding the number of members in municipal council based on figures from the 2021 Census, which categorized the country’s population in residents and non-residents.  As a result, the decision reduces the number of council members in 14 municipal councils.

At an SEC session, Shehu requested that the adoption of a guideline based on the Government’s decision require a unanimous vote, citing provisions from the Electoral Code. She was the only one to oppose the guideline, which was eventually adopted with five votes in favor and one against. The Administrative Court has 48 hours to respond to Shehu’s lawsuit.

The Government adopted the decision in September 2024 and with it, it increased the number of council members in the municipalities of Kisela Voda, Karposh, and Studenichani, while reducing the number of members in 14 municipalities: Gostivar, Kichevo, Kratovo, Kriva Palanka, Kumanovo, Pehchevo, Struga, Vrapchishte, Debarca, Zhelino, Jegunovce, Novo Selo, Tearce, and Centar Zhupa. The biggest reduction is in the Gostivar Municipal Council, where, according to the decision, the number of members is to be cut from 31 to 23.  

Opposition party DUI also said it would appeal the decision at the Administrative Court. The party said the decision is not constitutional, adding that the goal is “ethnic majorization and the exclusion of Albanians from decision-making”.  

MIA file photo