Skopje, 16 August 2025 (MIA) - The Parliament scheduled a session for Saturday, with the only item on the agenda being amendments to the Electoral Code under a fast-track procedure, which, among other, regulate the participation of independent candidates in the upcoming local elections. Under the amendments, to nominate lists of MP candidates of a group of voters, instead of 1 percent, it is necessary to collect signatures from at least 0.95 percent of the total number of voters registered in the relevant electoral unit. 

In addition, under the amendments, to nominate lists of MP candidates of a group of voters from electoral units for voting abroad, it is necessary to collect at least 1,000 signatures from the total number of voters registered in those electoral units before the officials of the diplomatic and consular offices, on a form specified by the State Election Commission. 

The proposed bill also defines online news portals in accordance with the Law on Media, and alignment with the Law on Organization and Work of State Administration Bodies, and MPs with collected signatures.

According to the proposers (group of MPs), the proposed bill will ensure a clear, transparent and inclusive election process and will overcome inconsistencies by strengthening the legal framework.

Previously, the State Election Commission at a session last Saturday passed a conclusion revoking the 2024 handbook regulating the signature collection procedure according to the Electoral Code. The handbook, according to SEC head Boris Kondarko, was revoked as a result of the Constitutional Court decision rescinding Articles 61 and 62 of the Electoral Code, which regulated the number/percentage of signatures to nominate lists of a group of voters.

Photo: MIA