oiip

14.05.2024
17:30 - 19:00

oiip
Währinger Strasse 3/12, 1090 Wien

Link to the summary

After seven years of rule by its social-democratic party (SDSM), North Macedonia is seeing the electoral tide turn, with conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE’s Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova scoring a decisive first-round presidential election victory over SDSM’s incumbent Stevo Pendarovski on April 24. The opposition is predicted to achieve a similar win in the parliamentary vote on May 8, as well as reaffirming Siljanovska-Davkova’s victory in a presidential runoff on the same day, although Pendarovski might close some of the gap, partly through support from ethnic Albanian voters.

However, the aftermath of this potentially pivotal double election is less straightforward. VMRO-DPMNE should be able to form a governing coalition, but ethnic Albanian parties will expect the party to soften its stance on the controversial constitutional changes requested by Bulgaria, which has been blocking the country’s accession talks with the EU. Other aspects to watch closely are the potential move into opposition of DUI, an ethnic Albanian party which has been in government since 2008 and is expected to come first among ethnic Albanian parties on May 8, as well as the post-election positioning of two ascending Macedonian nationalist parties, ZNAM and Levica.

For a detailed analysis of North Macedonia’s double election and its aftermath, including its implications for EU accession talks, the lives of citizens, and regional stability in the Western Balkans, join our panel with:

Vedran Dzihic
oiip

Branimir Jovanovic
Economist, Vienna Institute for International Economic Research

Lura Pollozhani
Researcher, CSEES

Kristijan Fidanovski
Doctoral Candidate, University of Oxford

Moderated by:
Ivan Nikolovski
PhD Researcher at CEU, Co-coordinator of YURG

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