OSCE: Macedonia Opposition Press "Practically Eliminated"

balkan insight
05 JUL 2011 / 14:30

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, has warned that lastweek’s closure of three pro-opposition newspapers for alleged unpaid taxes has virtually eliminated criticism of government from the press.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje
The OSCE suspects that media which has been critical of the government has been specifically targeted by the authorities, and urged them to ensure media pluralism and transparent investigations. ...more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/osce-concerned-about-pluralism-in-macedonia

Macedonian Opposition Splits in Parliament

balkan insight
17 JUN 2011 / 09:54

Freshly elected MPs in the Social-Democrat-led opposition bloc have announced they are forming their own caucus - but deny plans to join the rightist government.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic Skopje
Two prominent opposition MPs, Tito Petkovski and Fijat Canovski, announced the formation of their own parliamentary group this week, which will function separately from the Social Democrat-led opposition....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-opposition-front-splits-in-parliament

More of the same in Macedonia?

the economist
Macedonia's election

     Jun 8th 2011, 10:02 by T.J.

LATER this year Macedonia is expected to top a  plinth it has built in the centre of Skopje, the capital, with a giant equestrian statue of Alexander the Great. The Greeks, who think the Macedonians are stealing their cultural heritage, will fume (although it will at least give George Papandreou's government in Athens a chance to distract attention from the dire state of the economy). Everyone else will assume this is just more Balkan-flavoured craziness.....more....  

read more: the economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2011/06/macedonias-election

Head of Macedonia’s Liberal Democrats Resigns

balkan insight
07 Jun 2011 / 08:08
After failing to secure any seats in parliament at Sunday’s general elections, the head of Macedonia’s opposition Liberal Democrats has tendered his resignation.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
Jovan Manasievski took responsibility for his party's poor election result.

“The fact that we will not have an MP in the parliament is a loss for us but also for the people,” he told a press conference on Monday.

The party, known for holding the centre ground on the local political scene, won some 16,500 votes on Sunday, which is only 1.47 percent of the total vote. This was not enough to win an MP seat....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/head-of-macedonia-s-liberal-democrat-s-resigns

Macedonian Police Arrest Top Government Critic

balkan insight
06 Jun 2011 / 16:25

Police on Monday arrested Ljube Boskoski, an opposition leader and harsh critic of the current centre-right government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, on suspicion of illegal party financing.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
The arrest comes just one day after Sunday’s general elections, which according to preliminary results brought no MP seats for Boskoski's right-wing opposition United for Macedonia party....more....

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-police-arrests-government-s-harsh-critic

Polls Close in Macedonia's General Election

balkan insight
05 Jun 2011 / 20:02

No violent incidents or major irregularities were registered as polls closed at 7pm on Sunday in Macedonia.
Skopje
The snap election, called after months of political stalemate caused by an opposition decision to boycott parliament at the start of this year, will determine the fate of the government of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski after five years in power....more...

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/polls-close-in-macedonia-s-general-election

Macedonia Opposition PM Candidate Reports Attack

balkan insight
02 Jun 2011 / 16:33

The opposition Social Democrats' prime minister-in-waiting, Radmila Shekerinska, says that her vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night after a party meeting.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
On their way back to Skopje, the car carrying Shekerinska reportedly came under attack by an unidentified vehicle with tinted windows that tried to push them off the road....more...

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonias-shekerinska-reports-attack

Macedonian Parties Run Contrasting Campaigns

balkan insight
23 May 2011 / 08:09

Several days into the campaign for the June 5 early general election, the two big parties have settled on very different campaign strategies .
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
In the general camapign in Macedonia, the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party is dominating the media advertising space and social networks, while the opposition Social Democrats have opted for a more personal approach, going from door to door bearing traditional goodwill gifts....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-parties-take-different-campaign-approaches

read more: balkan insight

Macedonian Parties Agree Election Conduct Code

balkan insight
13 May 2011 / 08:37

Leaders of the 30 largest parties on Thursday signed a Code of Conduct for Free and Fair Elections aimed at relaxing the atmosphere before the June 5 polls.
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
Nikola Gruevski, leader of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, and Branko Crvenkovski, head of the largest opposition party, the Social Democrats, were among the leaders signing the code in Skopje....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-parties-sign-election-conduct-code

read more: balkan insight

Macedonia Opposition Seeks Probe in Election Scandal

balkan insight
10 May 2011 / 09:25

Macedonia's opposition calls for a thorough investigation after local TV reporters raised suspicions of a government scheme to secure votes at the forthcoming June 5 early elections.
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
The country’s most popular television station, A1 TV, this weekend aired recordings of telephone conversations that they say show that public administration employees were forced to provide lists of voters who they could guarantee would cast their ballot for the ruling party, in exchange for keeping their post or a promise of employment for their relatives or close associates....more...

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-opposition-asks-responsibility-for-voting-lists-scandal

read more: balkan insight

Deadline For Macedonian Election Candidates Expires

balkan insight
05 May 2011 / 09:02

Politicians have until midnight Thursday to submit candidate lists for the June 5 early elections to the State Electoral Commission.

 Skopje
So far, only Macedonia's opposition parties have disclosed all the names of their front runners that will lead their party lists in each of the six electoral districts. The ruling centre-right VMRO-DPMNE party has kept most of its top names secret....more....
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-deadline-expires-for-submitting-legislator-candidates

Radmila Shekerinska: Brussels’ Favourite Macedonian

balkan insight
22 Apr 2011 / 08:08

After losing to Nikola Gruevski once already in the 2008 elections, the woman with a hotline to Washington and Brussels is back in the ring, as the Social Democrats’ Prime Minister-in-waiting.
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
The former head of Macedonia’s Social Democrats, a woman highly esteemed in EU circles, is back in the political game for the June 5 early general elections.....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/radmila-shekerinska-symbol-of-macedonia-s-eu-acession

Macedonia Opposition Names Shekerinska PM Candidate

balkan insight
21 Apr 2011 / 11:07

Macedonia's main opposition Social Democrats have chosen Radmila Shekerinska as the party's candidate for prime minister, as the country prepares for June 5 elections.
Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Skopje
Party leader Branko Crvenkovski made the announcement late on Wednesday at a celebration of the party’s 20th anniversary....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-s-shekerinska-elected-opposition-pm-candidate

Macedonian Opposition Mull Candidates for PM

balkan insight

13 Apr 2011 / 08:53

Opposition Social Democrats may keep the name of their would-be prime minister secret until closer to the June elections.

Sinisa Jakov Marusic, Skopje ...more...

read more: balkan insight

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonian-opposition-yet-to-reveal-its-runner

Macedonian Opposition Unhappy Over Electoral Code

balkan insight

04 Apr 2011 / 14:32

Macedonia’s opposition Social Democrats are unhappy over the adoption of a new electoral code, after their key demand was ignored by the ruling party. The ruling VMRO DPMNE adopted the electoral code on Friday without the presence of the opposition, which is boycotting parliament....more...

Sinisa Jakov Marusic, Skopje

read more: balkan insight

http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/opposition-unhappy-over-electoral-code