VMRO‑DPMNE backs any electoral law compromise that includes diaspora voting

VMRO‑DPMNE coordinator Bojan Stojanovski urged the opposition parties – SDSM, Levica, DUI and allied blocs – to reach an agreement on amendments to Macedonia’s Electoral Code by 15 July. He said the ruling coalition will support any version of the law as long as it guarantees voting rights for the diaspora, offering unconditional backing for proposals on electoral units, party financing and grievance mechanisms.

The party accused the opposition of deliberately blocking the reform, alleging that the parties fear a decline in their poll ratings and are seeking “alibis” for a potential electoral loss. VMRO‑DPMNE highlighted Macedonia’s progress on the EU‑backed Reform Agenda, claiming nine out of ten points have been met, and warned that the opposition’s criticism of electronic diaspora voting could undermine democratic standards.

Opposition representatives, including SDSM spokeswoman Bogdanka Kužeska, rejected uncontrolled electronic voting, labeling it a risk of “mass election theft,” while maintaining support for diaspora voting under the existing model. The dispute centres on whether to incorporate new voting mechanisms for Macedonians abroad ahead of upcoming elections.