Preliminary statement on re-runs of second round of presidential election in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

SKOPJE, 6 December 1999 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission to the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia issued a statement of preliminary findings after the re-runs of the second round of the presidential elections held on 5 December 1999 (attached).The preliminary statement was issued prior to the completion of the entire election process. It concerns the re-running of the second round of voting in 230 of the country's 2,973 polling stations, following the decisions by the State Election Commission and the Supreme Court to annul the election in those polling stations. It should be considered in conjunction with the previous statements issued by OSCE/ODIHR after the first and second rounds of voting.

Summary of Conclusions

• The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission has serious concerns about the election process in many of the re-run polling stations. Whilst the election proceeded fairly smoothly in some polling stations, it is clear that in others serious breaches of the law took place.
• The genuine participation of voters was visibly higher than for the previous round of the elections and in some polling stations officials have worked to improve the process. However, in other polling stations there was widespread ballot stuffing and multiple voting, resulting in voter turnout figures which appear to be unrealistic. There was also an over-presence of party activists around polling stations, leading to a tense atmosphere and at least two violent incidents, in Lipkovo and Struga, which are completely unacceptable. The irregularities committed undermine the credibility of the electoral process in these affected polling stations.
• The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia's (SDSM) withdrawal of their representatives from the polling stations added confusion, and deprived the process of the presence of opposition representatives, which is vital for the transparency of the election. Such a general withdrawal does not serve the interests of the election. Whilst it is clear that in some instances SDSM's representatives had grounds to be concerned for their safety, this was not the case in all polling stations.
• The election law only allows for complaints to be pursued on a polling station-by-polling station basis. Therefore, if political parties have credible complaints, they should be submitted through the relevant authorities, so that irregularities can be dealt with in the legally prescribed manner. The electoral and legal authorities are urged to carefully scrutinise reported irregularities in order to ensure the legitimacy of the results and full confidence in the process.

Mission Information

This assessment is based upon the reports of some 50 teams of international observers from 20 participating States of the OSCE. On election day, observers reported from over 200 of the 230 polling stations being re-run in 23 districts.

Mr. Mark Stevens is the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission.For further information, please contact:Mark Stevens, Head of Mission, OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, tel. 070 255 582 (until 08/12/99)Hrair Balian, Head of Election Section, OSCE/ODIHR Warsaw, tel. +48 22 520 0600 / fax: +48 22 628 6967