Macedonia Poll Re-Run Could Alter Election Result

Macedonia's Administrative Court on Tuesday accepted one electoral complaint filed by the opposition Social Democratic Union, SDSM as a result of which the December 11 general election will be re-run in a single polling station, number 2011, in the north western municipality of Tearce.

This single re-run could alter the number of seats won in parliament by the two main parties on December 11 from 51-49 in favour of the ruling VMRO DPMNE party to 50-50 with the SDSM.

The difference in the votes on December 11 between VMRO DPMNE and the SDSM in the sixth electoral unit, where Tearce is located, was just 307 votes in favour of the ruling party.

The re-run could thus potentially change this, and even out the overall result by taking away one seat from VMRO DPMNE and giving it to the opposition.

For the purpose of general elections, Macedonia is divided into six electoral units, each contributing 20 seats in the 120-seat parliament. The number of MPs won by the parties in each electoral unit is calculated by a proportional model dependent on the won votes.

Re-run spells further trouble:

The risk of tension remains high, however, as VMRO DPMNE called the Administrative Court decision "scandalous" and "illegal" and warned that it will not participate in the re-run.

"This is part of a larger scenario to falsify the electoral will of the citizens ... The math is simple. In this polling station, the SDSM can steal VMRO DPMNE's election victory," VMRO DPMNE's executive committee member Nikola Todorov said.

"The scenario for electoral theft makes us stronger, more determined and more united in our intention to defend democracy because we are on the side of the people, justice, law and truth...