The ruling VMRO DPMNE of former prime minister Nikola Gruevski has denied accusations it is practically suspending political pluralism in Macedonia by insisting on competing in June 5 elections alone. “It is a misconception that only one party [VMRO DPMNE] will participate. Our coalition is comprised of 20 parties and that is in itself proof that political pluralism will be preserved,” a senior source from VMRO DPMNE told BIRN under conditions of anonymity. Gruevski previously told the news agency AFP that while he was unhappy about the planned boycott of the polls by other big political parties, “there is no legal basis to be found for postponement of the elections” because parliament had already dissolved and cannot now change the election date. Gruevski said he might opt for another poll, right after the June 5 vote, in order to give other players a second change to participate.
The opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, the Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, and the [ethnic Albanian] Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, which is in government, have all opted against a June 5 election date, insisting that conditions for free and fair polls are not met.
They, as well as the State Electoral Commission, have called on the speaker of parliament, Trajko Veljanoski, to recall parliament to discuss the election crisis.
However, Veljanoski, after remaining silent over the weekend, when he was in Rome, on Monday issued a statement saying that he had no “constitutional right to call a session of the dissolved parliament”, adding that this was “a legal and constitutional rule in every other democracy”.
Full Article: Macedonia Ruling Party Defends Solo Election :: Balkan Insight.