Skopje, 6 July 2026 (MIA) - Party whips and representatives of parliamentary groups will hold a meeting Tuesday in Parliament to discuss amendments to the Electoral Code, the ruling majority told MIA.

VMRO-DPMNE's parliamentary group said at the meeting they expect to hear the positions of SDSM and DUI regarding the proposal to introduce postal voting in the diaspora, and to regulate the procedure with a bylaw at a session of the State Election Commission (SEC) by September 30, 2028 at the latest. The ruling party’s parliamentary group also said it is prepared to agree to the introduction of a single electoral district.

In the meantime, Levica requested amendments that would ensure parties with parliamentary groups receive 10 percent of state funds for election advertising and that the State Election Commission adopts decision by consensus, which VMRO-DPMNE's parliamentary group said it finds unacceptable.

The most contentious of the proposed amendments to the Electoral Code, which is currently in parliamentary procedure, was the ruling party’s proposal for online voting in the diaspora. SDSM immediately dismissed the proposal, while Levica found it acceptable in exchange for a higher allocation of state funds for election advertising. The two parties are currently blocking the Electoral Code with 13.500 different amendments.

Participants in the Electoral Code working group accepted a proposal from DUI and Levica regarding the allocation of state funds for election ads, under which the number of parliamentary seats will serve as the objective criterion for distributing 97 percent of state funds, while the remaining 3 percent will be available to parties without seats in Parliament. Accordingly, 42 percent would go to the two largest ruling parties, 42 percent to the two largest opposition parties, 8 percent to parties with parliamentary groups, 5 percent to parties without parliamentary groups, and 3 percent to extra-parliamentary parties and independents.

If a consensus on the Electoral Code is reached in Parliament, SDSM and Levica will withdraw their amendments, unblocking the process. Amending the Electoral Code is the final item on the ten-point checklist for the country's reform process grace period.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court is scheduled to review on Wednesday an initiative filed by Levica and Democrats concerning the issue of state funds for political advertising.

MIA file photo