An atmosphere of heightened political tension pervaded North Macedonia in 2023. The government, comprised of a coalition led by the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and two Albanian parties, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and the Alliance for Albanians (AA), continued a protracted standoff with the opposition, including the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) and the fast-growing Levica (the Left) party. This political polarization stems from deep divisions among the major political parties following the downfall of Nikola Gruevski’s government in 2016. In 2017, VMRO-DPMNE attempted to block the formation of a new government by storming the parliament, which worsened these divisions.
Tensions between the ruling coalition and the opposition intensified during the adoption of the Prespa Agreement in 2018, which resolved the longstanding name dispute with Greece.
In 2022, hostilities peaked when the government accepted the “French proposal,” which paved the way for North Macedonia to begin EU accession talks once it incorporated ethnic Bulgarians into the constitution.
In 2023, the opposition vehemently opposed constitutional amendments designed to include ethnic Bulgarians in the constitution as required by the EU. The opposition rejected the amendments and said it would “not accept alterations imposed under a Bulgarian dictate.” Both parties exchange accusations: SDSM labels VMRO-DPMNE as anti-EU,
while VMRO-DPMNE charges SDSM with national treason, crime, and corruption.
In August, the government submitted its proposed amendments to the parliament for debate. However, the governing coalition could not muster the two-thirds majority needed to initiate the procedure for constitutional changes. Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi of DUI then indefinitely adjourned the parliamentary session in hopes of eventually securing enough votes, a move that generated intense criticism from the opposition. Opposition leaders said Xhaferi had violated the constitution and parliamentary rules that required the first vote (of several votes needed for a constitutional change) to occur within 10 days of the initiation of the procedure in parliament.
There were no elections or changes to the electoral framework in 2023. Legislative efforts to consolidate the existing six electoral districts into a unified nationwide district under a proportional representation system remained in a state of limbo. This longstanding initiative, predominantly advocated by smaller political parties, has gained tentative support from the two major political players, VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM. Nonetheless, substantial disagreements persisted with Albanian parties and stymied reform efforts. The next parliamentary and presidential elections will occur in 2024.
Civil society is vibrant in North Macedonia but faces ongoing funding challenges that could undermine its long-term impact. Government-civil society cooperation through the Council for Cooperation has been marked by persistent tensions since 2022. In January, 15 civil society organizations (CSOs) published an open letter to Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski that sought clarity on the government’s stance towards the council and expressed concerns about its commitment to the council’s obligations.
With the government’s declarative support, LGBT+ groups organized the fourth Pride March in June without any noteworthy incidents. However, conservative opposition to the march continues to resonate.
Freedom of expression is generally respected, but the media landscape remains notably fragmented, including along ethnic lines. Journalists, especially those who report on corruption and abuse of power, continue to face harassment and other challenges. The parliament, however, enacted provisions in 2023 to bolster protections for journalists. Under these provisions, assaults on journalists are equated with attacks on government officials, leading to more stringent penalties for perpetrators.
However, during its fact-finding mission to North Macedonia in 2023, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom voiced apprehension about the outlook for journalism in the country, noting the absence of pluralism, subpar working conditions, and challenges to the sustainability of media companies.
North Macedonia’s local self-government operates within a one-tier structure comprising 80 municipalities, with the City of Skopje holding special status. These municipalities wield significant authority but rely on central government funding. There were no substantial reforms to local government in 2023, but certain opposition-led municipalities claimed that the government was biased against them.
The independent mayor of Skopje, who the VMRO-DPMNE initially supported, had a contentious relationship with the City Council, leading to legislative gridlock. Tensions had escalated since the mayor accused VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM of corruption and ties to organized crime and distanced herself from the VMRO-DPMNE. However, the mayor has faced declining approval ratings, largely due to a sharp deterioration in the quality of municipal services.
The judiciary remains one of North Macedonia’s most criticized and distrusted institutions. It is widely perceived as ineffective and prone to corruption and political influence. Throughout 2023, the justice system remained under intense public scrutiny as it weathered controversies about the courts, prosecutors, and the State Judicial Council. In April, the council voted to remove its leader, Vesna Dameva. Dameva protested her removal and said it violated the council’s procedural rules and was thus illegal.
Dameva filed a lawsuit challenging her removal and lodged a criminal complaint.
Government officials, the president, foreign ambassadors, and the general public have expressed outrage over the series of scandals affecting this crucial judicial institution. Criticisms from EU-member state ambassadors and the US ambassador were especially palpable, highlighting the council’s failure to eliminate undue influence in the judiciary. Moreover, the appointment of new prosecutors and judges with family connections to prominent politicians (including the son of parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi) solidified public perceptions of nepotism in the judiciary.
Corruption remains a major concern for both the public and other international actors, notably the EU and the United States, which both consistently criticize North Macedonia for failing to effectively tackle the problem. The US government has barred several politicians and businessmen from entering the United States over corruption allegations, including Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko and former deputy prime minister Kocho Angjushev, who served in Zoran Zaev’s government.
In 2023, a slew of high-level corruption and organized crime allegations took center stage in public discourse. Fresh revelations about the deadly 2021 fire that destroyed a temporary COVID-19 hospital in Tetovo and allegations of high-level corruption involving the State Oncology Clinic generated public outrage. Police raided the oncology clinic due to allegations that an organized employee network stole expensive treatments and traded them on neighboring countries’ black markets. Furthermore, in September, the government moved quickly to unexpectedly introduce amendments to the Criminal Code that reduced penalties for abuse of office and participating in a criminal enterprise, as well as shortening the statutes of limitations for these offenses. The parliament quickly passed the legislation using a streamlined procedure under the banner of harmonization with EU legislation. This move also elicited widespread public outrage.
Source link : https://freedomhouse.org/country/north-macedonia/nations-transit/2024
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Publish date : 2024-04-11 05:26:00
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The post North Macedonia: Nations in Transit 2024 Country Report first appeared on Love Europe.
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Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-10-17 18:00:10
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.