2016 Macedonian parliamentary election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Infobox legislative election
| country = Republic of Macedonia
| type = parliamentary
| previous_election = 2014
| next_election = 2020
| election_date = 11 December 2016
| seats_for_election = All 123 seats in the Assembly
| majority_seats = 62
| party1 = For a Better Macedonia | leader1 = Nikola Gruevski | last_election1 = 61 | percentage1 = 39.39 | seats1 = 51 | color1 = {{party color|VMRO-DPMNE}}
| party2 = For Life in Macedonia | leader2 = Zoran Zaev | last_election2 = 34 | percentage2 = 37.87 | seats2 = 49 | color2 = #033A73
| party3 = Democratic Union for Integration | leader3 = Ali Ahmeti | last_election3 = 19 | percentage3 = 7.52 | seats3 = 10
| party4 = Besa Movement | leader4 = Bilal Kasami | last_election4 = new | percentage4 = 5.01 | seats4 = 5
| party5 = Alliance for Albanians | leader5 = Ziadin Sela | last_election5 = new | percentage5 = 3.04 | seats5 = 3
| party6 = Democratic Party of Albanians | leader6 = Menduh Thaçi | last_election6 = 7 | percentage6 = 2.68 | seats6 = 2
| map = Sobranie2016.png
| map_caption = Results by constituency
| title = Prime Minister
| before_election = Emil Dimitriev
| before_party = VMRO-DPMNE
| after_election = Zoran Zaev
| after_party = Social Democratic Union of Macedonia
}}{{Politics of Macedonia}}
{{Macedonian political crisis}}
Early parliamentary elections were held in Macedonia on 11 December 2016, having originally been planned for 24 April and later 5 June.[http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-15-5372_en.htm Statement by Commissioner Hahn and MEPs Vajgl, Howitt and Kukan: Agreement in Skopje to overcome political crisis] European Commission, 15 July 2015
The elections were held in the midst of a political crisis and national protests since 2015. The incumbent VMRO-DPMNE led government, which had been in government since the 2006 elections, were unable to form a coalition despite winning the most seats. The centre-left SDSM successfully formed a government with members of the Albanian-interest parties DUI and Alliance for Albanians following prolonged negotiations.
Background
{{main|2015 Macedonian protests|2016 Macedonian protests}}
The elections were called as part of an agreement brokered by the European Union to end the protests against the government of Nikola Gruevski.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32985554 Macedonia unrest: EU brokers plan for early elections] BBC News, 2 June 2015 The demonstrations were sparked by the wiretapping scandal involving high ranking politicians and security personnel.[https://www.occrp.org/en/daily/5732-macedonia-special-prosecutor-wins-standoff-over-wiretap-evidence Macedonia: Special Prosecutor Wins Standoff Over Wiretap Evidence] OCCRP From 20 October 2015, a transitional government was installed including the two main parties, VMRO-DPMNE and the Social Democratic Union (SDSM). A new special prosecutor was appointed to investigate Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and government ministers. According to the Pržino Agreement signed in mid-December 2015, Gruevski was required to resign as Prime Minister 120 days before the elections. Assembly speaker Trajko Veljanovski confirmed the date on 18 October.{{cn|date=August 2021}}
Electoral system
Of the 123 seats in the Assembly of the Republic, 120 are elected from six 20-seat constituencies in Macedonia using closed list proportional representation, with seats allocated using the d'Hondt method. The remaining three members are elected by Macedonians living abroad.{{cite web|url=https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/north-macedonia/428369?download=true|title=ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report|website=Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe|access-date=5 December 2019}}.[http://www.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/2313_B.htm Electoral system] IPU However, the overseas seats would only be validated if the candidates received enough votes. As they did not, the seats were not awarded.
Results
{{Election results
|party1=For a Better Macedonia|votes1=454577|seats1=51|sc1=−10|color1={{party color|VMRO-DPMNE}}
|party2=For Life in Macedonia|votes2=436981|seats2=49|sc2=+15|color2=#033A73
|party3=Democratic Union for Integration|votes3=86796|seats3=10|sc3=−9
|party4=Besa Movement|votes4=57868|seats4=5|sc4=New
|party5=Alliance for Albanians|votes5=35121|seats5=3|sc5=New
|party6=Democratic Party of Albanians|votes6=30964|seats6=2|sc6=−5
|party7=VMRO for Macedonia{{efn|VMRO – People's Party, {{ill|Dignity (North Macedonia)|mk|Достоинство (политичка партија)|lt=Dignity}}, United for Macedonia}}|votes7=24524|seats7=0|sc7=0
|party8=The Left|votes8=12120|seats8=0|sc8=New
|party9=Coalition for Change and Justice – Third Bloc{{efn|Democratic Union, {{ill|Front for Democratic Macedonia|mk|Фронт за демократска Македонија}}, {{ill|DEMOS – New Better Macedonia|mk|ДЕМОС - Нова подобра Македонија}}, {{ill|MORO–Labour Party|mk|Македонска обновителна реформска опција - Работничка партија}}}}|votes9=10028|seats9=0|sc9=New|color9=gold
|party10=Liberal Party|votes10=3840|seats10=0|sc10=0
|party11=Party for Democratic Prosperity|votes11=1143|seats11=0|sc11=0|color11=skyblue
|invalid=37870
|total_sc=−3
|electorate=1784416
|source=[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B8ZpCwro9h-zWndudTFnSnpYdk0/view SEC]
|image=File:2016 Macedonian Assembly.svg}}
Aftermath
The Electoral Commission called a re-run for 25 December 2016 in Tearce and Gostivar,{{Cite web |title=Macedonia: With Revote at Polling Station on Sunday, Distribution of Mandates Depends on Vote Count Independent.mk, 21 December 2016 |url=http://www.independent.mk/articles/39771/Macedonia+With+Revote+at+Polling+Station+on+Sunday%2C+Distribution+of+Mandates+Depends+on+Vote+Count |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161227082714/http://www.independent.mk/articles/39771/Macedonia+With+Revote+at+Polling+Station+on+Sunday,+Distribution+of+Mandates+Depends+on+Vote+Count |archive-date=27 December 2016 |access-date=21 December 2016 |df=dmy-all}} though in Gostivar it was called off after the VMRO-DPMNE filed a lawsuit against the decision,{{cite web |date=21 December 2016 |title=VMRO-DPMNE's Lawsuit Accepted, There is No Re-Run in Gostivar! |url=https://www.civil.org.mk/prifatna-tuzhbata-na-vmro-dpmnje-nma-prglasuva-vo-gostivar/?lang=mk |website=CIVIL}} {{in lang|mk}} and in Tearce the outcome was unchanged.{{cite web |date=26 December 2016 |title=CIVIL’s Preliminary Report on Election Rerun in Tearce |url=https://www.civil.org.mk/civils-preliminary-report-on-election-rerun-in-tearce |website=CIVIL}}
=Government formation=
Although VMRO-DPMNE attempted to form a coalition with Albanian minority interest party DUI, coalition talks broke down in late January 2017.{{cite news |date=30 January 2017 |title=Macedonia's political crisis continues as conservatives fail to form coalition |publisher=Deutsche Welle |agency=AP, dpa, Reuters |url=http://www.dw.com/en/macedonias-political-crisis-continues-as-conservatives-fail-to-form-coalition/a-37325772 |access-date=2 February 2017}} After that, the SDSM pursued informal coalition talks with the DUI, though as late as February 2017, coalition talks were frozen on the usage of the Albanian language.{{cite news |author=Sinisa Jakov Marusic |date=20 February 2017 |title=Macedonia Govt Talks Stuck Over Albanian Language Demands |publisher=Balkan Insight |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-govt-talks-stuck-on-albanian-language-use-02-20-2017 |access-date=20 February 2017}} These talks were also blocked by VMRO-DPMNE President Gjorge Ivanov over fears of "a loss of sovereignty" to Albanians under the proposed government.{{Cite news |date=2017-05-17 |title=Macedonian president gives mandate for coalition government |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-macedonia-politics-idUSKCN18D13P |access-date=2022-07-25}} A government was finally approved between SDSM and members of DUI and the Alliance for Albanians in May 2017.{{Cite web |date=2017-05-31 |title=Macedonia Parliament Approves New Gov’t after Prolonged Stalemate |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/05/31/macedonia-parliament-approves-zaev-s-new-govt-05-31-2017/ |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}} SDSM leader Zoran Zaev became prime minister.
Coalition talks were impacted by the storming of the parliament building in April.{{Cite news |last=Times |first=The New York |date=2017-04-28 |title=Zoran Zaev, Macedonian Lawmaker, Is Bloodied in Attack on Parliament by Nationalists |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/27/world/europe/macedonia-parliament-attacked-nationalists.html |access-date=2022-07-25 |issn=0362-4331}} Protestors, who opposed the election of the first Albanian-speaker of Parliament, Talat Xhaferi, targeted MPs who belonged to Albanian-interest parties and the SDSM.{{Cite web |last=Skopje |first=Staff and agencies in |date=2017-04-27 |title=Macedonia: protesters storm parliament and attack MPs |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/27/macedonia-protesters-storm-parliament-and-attack-mps |access-date=2022-07-25 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Macedonian elections}}