December Election Date in Question in Macedonia

The agreed December 11 date for early general elections in Macedonia is again under question after parliament continued its work on Wednesday instead of dissolving as planned, 60 days ahead of polling day.

The formal reasons for not dissolving parliament were ongoing debates about the 2017 budget and the need to approve a new agreement on electoral districts.

Opposition-proposed changes to the law designed to improve the work of the Special Prosecution are also still on the parliamentary agenda, after being rejected by the ruling parties.

The ruling VMRO DPMNE party is accused of tactically stalling parliament's work in case it decides not to go for elections in December and pushes the date back to March 2017, together with regular local elections.

Political science professor Albert Musliu said the ruling party was "buying time", by keeping parliament in session. "If the ruling party decides it has no chance of winning the elections [in December], it may use this to delay the election," he said.

The legal deadline for parliament to dissolve in time for elections on December 11 is October 27.  It is up to the speaker, Trajko Veljanoski, who comes from the ranks of the ruling party, to decide when to schedule the session on dissolution of the assembly.

Matters should be clarified following the announced visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Johannes Hahn to Skopje this Friday.

Hahn's spokesperson, Maja Kocijancic, has said Hahn plans to meet key leaders and discuss the December polls as well as urgent reforms agreed to in the EU-led crisis deal reached this summer.

Political analyst Nikola Dujovski said Hahn would use his visit to cement the existing election date, amid disagreements between local...