Skopje, 2 June 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told journalists Monday VMRO-DPMNE's MPs would back amendments to the Electoral Code to introduce a single electoral district and grant the diaspora a right to vote in the country’s parliamentary elections.

“In principle, if we are talking about a single electoral district, I said this in Parliament, in response to an MP’s question that claimed we are ignoring the diaspora with the Law on Local Self-Government etc.  So, I put forward a proposal for a single electoral district that would allow the diaspora to vote, even outside the diplomatic and consular missions where this is permitted by the legislation and constitutions of the countries, and within the missions where this isn’t permitted. In principle, VMRO-DPMNE's MPs will back a single electoral district that would grant the diaspora the right to vote, since this was addressed in way that suggested that we, as the government were denying a certain right, and that right was the diaspora’s right to vote,” Mickoski told journalists.

The Prime Minister said he sees no reason why this shouldn’t be implemented by the next parliamentary elections.

“We have a few years until the next parliamentary elections, so if we do our job on time we can prepare the diplomatic and consular missions etc. I see no reason why this shouldn’t happen,” Mickoski said.

Asked if there is consensus over the idea, the PM said there is still no political debate over the issue.

“I have not initiated a political agenda to seek consensus on this topic because, as your colleague framed the question, it is a proposal from another political party. I stated my position in response to a question from an MP, and that’s all there is to it. So far, we have not sat down to discuss this issue with anyone. In fact, we do not have a political debate, nor any political agenda of our own to sit down, discuss, seek compromise, or reach consensus,” Mickoski said. 

The Liberal Democratic Party said it would submit Monday a proposal for the introduction of a single electoral district that would also include proposals submitted by independents.

Another party, the Democratic Union, also said it would submit proposed amendments to the Electoral Code in Parliament, which, it said, can be supplemented with OSCE/ODIHR’s recommendations. The idea for a single electoral district has also received the support of the Party for Movement of the Turks (THP) and green party Democratic Renewal of Macedonia (DOM).

Photo: MIA