OSCE Criticises Macedonia Over Election Shortcomings

The OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission to Skopje said on Monday that the polls were well-administered and fundamental freedoms were respected but there were a number of serious faults during the run-up to Sunday’s second-round presidential vote and simultaneous parliamentary elections.

“In a nutshell, the run-up failed to meet important OSCE commitments, including on the separation of state and party, on ensuring a level playing field, on the neutrality of the media, on the accuracy of the voters list and on the possibility of gaining redress through an effective complaints procedure,” said the head of the election observation mission, Geert Ahrens.

“All of this, unfortunately, overshadowed an election day that did meet commitments and was orderly and peaceful,” Ahrens said.

The OSCE monitors said that the ruling VMRO DPMNE party had unfairly used its government advantages during the pre-election campaign.

“A significant advantage in resources and predominance in political advertising meant… that the ruling party and its presidential candidate [Gjorge Ivanov] dominated the campaign environment,” an OSCE statement said.

It added that “the clear support they received from the government during the campaign did not respect the separation of party and the state”.

The OSCE also alleged media bias in favour of the ruling VMRO DPMNE party.

“The media monitored were largely biased in favour of the ruling party and the incumbent presidential candidate, while reporting negatively on the campaign of the main opposition party,” said Isabel Santos, head of the OSCE PA delegation. 

“All stakeholders should take a serious look at these findings, and then work together to create the conditions for a freer...