Main focus of Tuesday, June 3, 2008

The elections in Macedonia

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO–DPMNE) has won the early parliamentary elections in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, amid scenes of violence at the polling stations. What consequences will the hard-fought elections have for the process of European unification?

Die Presse - Austria

By staging riots during Sunday's parliamentary elections, Macedonia's Albanian minority has brought affliction upon the entire country, Wolfgang Greber writes. "The OSCE has determined that the violence took place exclusively in Albanian-dominated regions." For Greber, the violence at the polls "can only harm ... the fragile country, which already has its hands full with a weak economy, a precarious ethnic mix and hostile neighbours. Once more, Skopje's prospects for EU accession are on ice. ... One thing is clear: the Albanians have have ransacked the country's democratic china shop. 2.1 million people live in Macedonia. With its feuds, the conflict-ridden Albanian minority (around 25 percent) follows the Balkan tradition of conflict to a T, showing just how far the country is from being ready to join Europe." (03/06/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » Europe, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Wolfgang Greber

Ta Nea - Greece

Following irregularities during Macedonia's parliamentary elections the EU has closed its doors to the country, the Greek daily Ta Nea comments. "Even the country's citizens did not need to wait for the OSCE report to recognise the extent of the election irregularities. The moral offender was Nikola Gruevski and the victims were not only the Albanians, but also the Slavic Macedonians. ... The EU's door has closed, the country is experiencing its [dreams of EU accession], divided into two ethnic groups and with a man at its helm who wants to oppress them all. At some point in the future Skopje will find its way back to democracy, because despite the Balkans' difficult legacy, that is the direction in which history flows. And then Greece and other European nations will take the Former Yugoslavian Republic of Macedonia by the hand. But until then the discussion about its name will seem like something from another planet." (03/06/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Domestic Policy, » Europe, » South East Europe
All available articles from » Irini Karanasopoulou

Tages-Anzeiger - Switzerland

The newspaper comments on the parliamentary elections in Macedonia which saw Nikola Gruevski's Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity become the country's strongest political force. "Shortly before the NATO summit in April when it became clear to the Macedonian prime minister that Greece ... would not give in and would block the country's NATO accession, he called early elections. ... The time for the elections was no doubt right, allowing Gruevski to cast himself as defender of national interests and of the Macedonian identity. ... This allowed him to divert the public eye from the country's economic problems. Because his government has little to show ... apart from the fight against corruption. Food prices have risen in recent months, and inflation is devouring the benefits of economic growth." (02/06/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » EU enlargement, » Domestic Policy, » South East Europe

Süddeutsche Zeitung - Germany

Following parliamentary elections in Macedonia that were overshadowed by violent incidents and irregularities, the German daily writes: "In Macedonia the phrase election battle is taken literally. ... The state is too weak to do anything about this political backwardness. ... Nonetheless, Macedonia's stability is important for the entire Balkan region. The country is surrounded by hostile neighbours. Countless conflicts remain unresolved. ... The trench warfare among the Albanians and the dispute with Greece are paralysing Macedonia. In a situation like this, EU diplomacy is more vital than ever to ensure that the process of the entire region's integration into the West continues. In view of the EU's present difficulties with its mission of supervising Kosovo's independence we cannot expect any miracles from Brussels. At best the EU can contribute to establishing a superficial calm." (03/06/2008)

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More from the press review on the subject » EU enlargement, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Domestic Policy, » South East Europe, » Kosovo
All available articles from » Enver Robelli

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