North Macedonia federalization proposal suggests eight regions

Austrian economist and political activist Gunter Felinger-Jan has proposed a plan to transform North Macedonia into a federation based on the Austrian model. The proposal suggests dividing the country into eight regions—Skopje, Pollog, Northeast, West, Vardar, East, Southwest/Ohrid, and Pelagonia/Bitola—each with its own parliament, government, and governor.

Under this plan, regional authorities would manage education, culture, infrastructure, regional development, and local economy, while the federal government would retain control over defense, foreign policy, macroeconomic policy, and national standards. Felinger-Jan envisions North Macedonia joining the EU, the Schengen Area, and the OECD, and adopting the euro by 2029.

Ylber Idrizi, Vice President of the Democratic Party of Albanians (PDSH), stated that this model of deep decentralization and regional empowerment aligns with the party's long-held political vision. He noted that such a reconfiguration could accelerate European integration by reducing the concentration of power in Skopje.