Macedonia postpones election under EU pressure

Author (Person)
Series Title
Series Details 19.05.16
Publication Date 19/05/2016
Content Type

The parliament in FYR Macedonia agreed on 18 May 2016 to postpone elections due in June, after the European Union called on the authorities to delay the polls in order to ensure they could take place freely and fairly.

The delay was agreed by the parliament following the country's constitutional court decision to freeze all activities related to the parliamentary election.

The EU had warned on the previous day that elections scheduled for June in Macedonia could not be credible, because the ruling party was the only one to register candidates.

The country's parliament decided on 19 May to change the law to enable President Gjorge Ivanov to revoke pardons he had granted to more than 50 people implicated in the wiretapping scandal which had triggered the political crisis.

Source Link http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonia-postpones-election-under-eu-pressure/
Related Links
ESO: Background information: EU cancels Vienna talks as Macedonia protests continue http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-cancels-vienna-talks-as-macedonia-protests-continue/
ESO: Background information: Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini and Commissioner Johannes Hahn on the latest developments in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia http://www.europeansources.info/record/statement-joint-statement-by-high-representative-vice-president-federica-mogherini-and-commissioner-johannes-hahn-on-the-latest-developments-in-the-former-yugoslav-republic-of-macedonia/
BBC News, 18.05.16: Macedonia crisis: Parliament calls off June poll amid turmoil http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36327240
Deutsche Welle, 18.05.16: Macedonia calls off June 5 national elections http://dw.com/p/1IqCF
Balkan Insight, 18.05.16: Macedonia MPs Vote to Delay June 5 Elections http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-court-halts-june-5-elections-05-18-2016
Sputnik International, 18.05.16: NATO Pressures Macedonia as Court Halts June Elections http://sptnkne.ws/brtz
Balkan Insight, 17.05.16: Macedonia Ruling Party Defends Solo Election http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/macedonia-ruling-party-denies-suspending-pluralism-05-16-2016
EurActiv, 20.05.16: Macedonia passes law to enable disputed pardons to be revoked http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonia-passes-law-to-enable-disputed-pardons-to-be-revoked/
EurActiv, 25.05.16: Macedonia’s EU aspirations in jeopardy http://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/macedonias-eu-aspirations-in-jeopardy/

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