Macedonian Alliance for European Integration
{{Infobox political party
| name = Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (Macedonian Party)
| native_name = Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin Europian
Македонска Алијанса за Европска Интеграција
| colorcode = {{party color|Macedonian Alliance for European Integration}}
| logo = Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin Europian Logo.svg
| logo_size = 150px
| leader = Vasil Sterjovski
| ideology = {{Nowrap|Regionalism
Conservatism
Macedonian minority interests}}
| position = Centre-right to right-wing
| international =
| european = European Free Alliance{{cite web|url=https://mkd.mk/sterjovski-se-sretna-so-pretsedatelkata-na-efa-lorena-lopez-de-lakal/|title=Стерјовски се сретна со претседателката на ЕФА, Лорена Лопез де Лакал|date=9 March 2024|access-date=10 March 2024|lang=mk}}
| europarl =
| colours =
| headquarters =
| website = [https://maei.al/ MAEI]
| seats3_title =
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|3|1613|{{party color|Macedonian Alliance for European Integration}}}}
| state = Albania
}}
The Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (Macedonian Party) ({{langx|sq|Aleanca Maqedonase për Integrimin Europian}}; {{langx|mk|Македонска Алијанса за Европска Интеграција}}) is a political party of the ethnic Macedonians in Albania. It was established on 30 October 2004 under the name Macedonian Alliance for European Integration and was registered as a political party on 8 June 2005.{{Cite web|url=http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.aspx?VestID=47355|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725133602/http://www.a1.com.mk/vesti/default.aspx?VestID=47355|url-status=dead|title=Регистрирана првата партија на Македонците во Албанија|archive-date=July 25, 2011|language=mk|website=А1 Macedonia}} The first president of the party was Edmond Temelko, who was the mayor of the Pustec Municipality from 2007 until 2019. It first succeeded in electing an ethnic Macedonian to parliament in 2019, Vasil Sterjovski.{{cite web|url=https://mia.mk/2019/05/ethnic-macedonian-vasil-sterjovski-sworn-in-as-albanian-mp/?lang=en|title=Ethnic Macedonian Vasil Sterjovski sworn in as Albanian MP|website=MIA|accessdate=16 May 2019|archive-date=18 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718192258/https://mia.mk/2019/05/ethnic-macedonian-vasil-sterjovski-sworn-in-as-albanian-mp/?lang=en|url-status=dead}} Sterjovski himself was elected as the president of the party in September 2019. The party does not support the claims that a Bulgarian minority exists in Albania.{{cite web |title=Македонците демантираат, во Албанија нема Бугари |url=https://www.dw.com/mk/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B0%D1%82-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D1%83%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B8/a-5744740 |website=Deutsche Welle |language=mk}}
History
The party's first congress was held on 25 April 2009 in Tirana, the capital city of Albania. At the congress the party delegates made several major decisions:
- the statute and party program were adopted
- a central committee was formed
- the party leader was elected
- the party name was changed from Macedonian Alliance for European Integration into Macedonian Party
- decisions were made about establishing regional organizations of the party
In 2011, Macedonian Alliance for European Integration informed the mediums that Macedonians in Albania will boycott the Albanian Census of 2011.{{Cite web|url=http://www.utrinski.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=9DB21EB81B57A942A02946820AB45E17/|title=Утрински весник|website=www.utrinski.com.mk|access-date=2013-06-28|archive-date=2023-09-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908015415/http://www.utrinski.com.mk/default.asp?ItemID=9DB21EB81B57A942A02946820AB45E17/|url-status=dead}} Also, the party denied the results, based on the Census Law Amendments approved by the Albanian Parliament that established a fine of $1,000 to each person declaring unreal or partial data, specifically declaring ethnicity different to what is written in the birth certificate.{{Cite web|url=https://kanal5.com.mk/default.aspx?mId=37&eventId=80826&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115125510/http://kanal5.com.mk/default.aspx?mId=37|url-status=dead|title=Канал 5|archivedate=January 15, 2013|website=kanal5.com.mk}}
In August 2023, Vasil Sterjovski was unanimously re-elected as the party's president.{{cite news |publisher=Kanal 5 |url=https://kanal5.com.mk/vasil-sterjovski-ednoglasno-reizbran-za-pretsedatel-na-maei/a593430 |title=Васил Стерјовски едногласно реизбран за претседател на МАЕИ |date=29 July 2023 }} The party became a member of the European Free Alliance in March 2024.
Electoral results
=2007 local elections=
The party participated in 2007 Albanian local election,[http://www.cec.org.al/2004/eng/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/partite/eng.xls CEC 2004 Election Files] {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} obtaining 1.086{{Cite web |url=http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/rezultate%20perfundimtare/propocional%20panjb.pdf |title=Shpërndarja e votave të vlefshme të subjekteve zgjedhore për këshilltarë në rang vendi |access-date=July 6, 2009 |archive-date=May 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508180538/http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/rezultate%20perfundimtare/propocional%20panjb.pdf |url-status=dead |language=sq |website=Central Election Commission}} votes (0,08%) and gaining 4 councillor mandates: 1 in Trebisht and 3 in Liqenas,{{cite web|url=http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/rezultate%20perfundimtare/keshill.pdf |title=Rezultati përfundimtar i zgjedhjeve të datës 18.02.2007 për këshilltarë bashkie, komune dhe njësie bashkiake |accessdate=April 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508180535/http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/rezultate%20perfundimtare/keshill.pdf |archivedate=May 8, 2009|language=sq |website=Central Election Commission}} and Edmond Temelko with 1.468 votes supported by PS, LSI, PSD, PDS and AD was elected as mayor of the Liqenas Commune.{{Cite web |url=http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/web%20rez%20perf/rez_kryetar.htm |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-04-25 |archive-date=2008-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081212075547/http://www.cec.org.al/2004/zgjedhvendorefiles/2007/Rezultatet/web%20rez%20perf/rez_kryetar.htm |url-status=dead }}
=2009 parliamentary elections=
The party participated in the 2009 Albanian parliamentary election and entered a coalition with the Democratic Party of Albania of prime minister Sali Berisha.
= 2011 local elections =
In the 2011 local elections of Albania, the Macedonian Party president Edmond Temelko was re-elected as the mayor of the Liqenas Commune.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} The party received a plurality in two municipalities, Liqenas (28.5%) and Trebisht (19.6%). The party also received a significant percentage of votes in Bilisht, Pirg, and other regions bordering the Republic of Macedonia.{{Cite web |url=http://result.cec.org.al/ |title=Central Elections Commission |access-date=2011-06-07 |archive-date=2016-09-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160930203810/http://result.cec.org.al/ |url-status=dead}}
= 2015 local elections =
The party participated in 2015 Albanian local election, obtaining 3,647 votes (0.23%){{cite web |title=Local elections 2015 |url=http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=All&m=All&ps=All&vc=All |publisher=Central Election Commission |access-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714033125/http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=All&m=All&ps=All&vc=All |archive-date=14 July 2015|url-status=dead}} and gaining 9 councilor mandates: 7 in Pustec,{{cite web |title=Local elections 2015 |url=http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=61&ps=All&vc=All |publisher=Central Election Commission |access-date=29 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714034954/http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=61&ps=All&vc=All |archive-date=14 July 2015}} 1 in Pogradec{{Cite web |url=http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=57&ps=All&vc=All |title=Demokra – Integrated Elections Information System of CEC Albania |access-date=2015-07-13 |archive-date=2015-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714030411/http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=57&ps=All&vc=All |url-status=dead }} and 1 in Maliq,{{Cite web |url=http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=49&ps=All&vc=All |title=Demokra – Integrated Elections Information System of CEC Albania |access-date=2015-07-13 |archive-date=2015-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714023254/http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalAssembly?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r2&eu=9&m=49&ps=All&vc=All |url-status=dead }} and Edmond Temelko with 2,076 votes supported by ASE was elected as mayor of the Pustec Municipality.{{Cite web |url=http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalMayor?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r1&eu=9&m=61&ps=All&vc=All |title=Demokra – Integrated Elections Information System of CEC Albania |access-date=2015-07-13 |archive-date=2015-07-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714070641/http://results.cec.org.al/Results/LocalMayor?cs=en-US&r=r&rd=r1&eu=9&m=61&ps=All&vc=All |url-status=dead }}
= 2023 local elections =
In the 2023 Albanian local elections, the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration was in coalition with the ruling Socialist Party and supported the incumbent Socialist Party mayor of Pustec, Pali Kolefski. The party had candidates for councilors in Pustec, though Macedonian candidates in other parts of the country ran under the Socialist Party.{{cite news |url=https://www.vesti.mk/article/641fb74a60d102219cc2bb38 |title=МАКЕДОНСКАТА ПАРТИЈА МАЕИ ВО ИЗБОРНА КОАЛИЦИЈА СО СОЦИЈАЛИСТИТЕ, ВО ПУСТЕЦ ЌЕ ГО ПОДДРЖИ КОЛЕФСКИ |publisher=Vesti |date=26 March 2023 }} Kolefski faced and defeated Pandi Jani, supported by the opposition.{{cite news |url=https://mia.mk/story/%D0%BF%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8-%D1%98%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%86%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0-%D0%B7%D0%B0-%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0%D1%87%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%86 |title=Панди Јани кандидат на албанската опозиција за градоначалник на Пустец |date=1 April 2023 |author=Vera Todorovska |location=Debar |publisher=MIA }} MAEI member Jovan Shkëmbi was elected to Pogradec local council{{cite news |title=Македонецот Јован Шкмби нов советник во Советот на општина Поградец |url=https://mia.mk/story/%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B5%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%86%D0%BE%D1%82-%D1%98%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD-%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%BC%D0%B1%D0%B8-%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA-%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%82-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%88%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B5%D1%86 |date=4 September 2023 |author=Vera Todorovska |location=Tirana }} and was subsequently selected for the council of Korçë County along with MAEI party member from Pustec Takjo Grozdani.{{cite news |url=https://kanal5.com.mk/makedoncite-so-trojca-pretstavnici-vo-sovetot-na-okrugot-korcha/a603658 |title=Македонците со тројца претставници во Советот на округот Корча |date=3 October 2023 |publisher=Kanal 5 }}
References
{{Reflist|33em}}
{{Albanian political parties}}
{{Macedonian diaspora political parties and political organisations}}
{{Macedonian Diaspora}}
{{Macedonian diaspora organisations}}
Category:2004 establishments in Albania
Category:Conservative parties in Albania
Category:European Free Alliance
Category:Macedonian nationalism
Category:Political parties established in 2004
Category:Political parties in Albania
Category:Political parties of minorities in Albania