USAID works with political leaders to ensure fair elections (May 27, 2008)

 

In the past, elections in Macedonia have been marked by ballot box tampering, multiple voting, proxy voting and other irregularities.

To help the country’s political parties adhere to international election standards in the pre-election period and on Election Day, the USAID Parliamentary Development Project, implemented by the National Democratic Institute (NDI), together with Macedonian Women’s Lobby and Citizens’ Association MOST, has launched a public awareness campaign “We Can and We Must.”

Photo by NDI: Prime Minister Gruevski, SDSM leader Radmila Shekerinska and NDI Director Chris Henshaw (middle) at the Code of Conduct signing ceremony.   As part of the campaign, a public signing ceremony of the Code of Conduct for Free and Fair Parliamentary Elections took place in the Parliament’s Crystal Hall on May 8th.

Thirty-six political party presidents took part in the ceremony, including Prime Minister Gruevski of VMRO-DPMNE and the leaders of Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA).

The Code of Conduct calls for compliance with election laws and best practices, accurate media coverage, impartial work of the State Electoral Commission, and professional conduct of law enforcement agencies. During the month leading up to the elections, NDI will carry out a comprehensive media and outreach campaign to motivate political parties to adhere to the Code’s standards.

 
 
 
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