Republic of Macedonia

Political Parties

The period between the beginning of 1990's and the first multiparty elections in Macedonia was a time of intensive registering of new political parties. And so, realising their chance in the pluralistic skies, some using democracy, and still some national feelings as main cards in the game, about 20 parties appeared with their programs at the first elections. The majority of them, however, failed to win parliament seats or even representatives in township committees, which would have enabled them to participate in creating the country's politics and seriously affirm their own political programs. The process of founding political parties neither stopped nor slowed down after the elections were over. Quite contrary, many entirely new parties were registered, but also many parties were formed out of their original party, as a result of numerous inner differences, disputes and struggle for power. Anyhow, about 60 political parties, at least registered on paper, exist in Macedonia today. It is quite another issue how powerful they are, how many voters stand behind them, and how much they can influence the development of the country's politics.

Party of Yugoslavs

One of the parties which succeeded in winning two seats in Parliament and which the Macedonian public has probably somewhat forgotten, is the Party of Yugoslavs. Its representatives in Parliament today, at least formally, are Risto Kelesov, who won his seat in Kumanovo, and Risto Stamenov, the party's candidate from Strumica. At that time, the party, registered towards the end of May, 1990, had a program whose main accent was preserving the territorial integrity of the former Yugoslavia (at a time when the former Yugoslavia was still one state), and succeeded in gathering a large number of followers. In the meantime, the party held two congresses -- the first one in May, and the second one in June, last year. The wider public is probably not aware of the fact that the party, at its second congress, besides its new program and statute, also promoted its new name -- Party of Yugoslavs in Macedonia--YUGA (Yugoslav Union Civil Alliance). Political groups with similar names and programs also exist even today in Serbia, Croatia, and Bosnia--Herzegovina. Today, the main goal of the party comes down to re-integration of Yugoslavia of any kind, with mutual recognition of the sovereignty of all republics.

National Front

In the short period between the first and second rounds of the elections, a brief appearance on the scene was made by the so- called National Front, which then included in itself 4 nationally-oriented parties -- VMRO-DPMNE , MAAK, the People's Party, and the Party of Farmers in Macedonia. Nowadays, a great deal of speculation is going around as to who profited and who lost by the forming of this Front, in conditions of a national euphoria. One of these parties was also the People's Party.

Macedonian People's Party - MNP

 Practically formed out of the association named "United Macedonians", founded in February 1990, the People's Party held its founding assembly on 12 April, 1990, the very same day when the Law on Political Parties was adopted. The party held its first, and thus far only, congress on May 26, 1991, appointing Vladimir Stefanovski party president. As Stefanovski himself says, the party is national, but not national-chauvinist, as it does not spread hatred towards others, but only love for one's own nation.

Since in the meantime another party appeared, having an abbreviation which introduced confusion, the People's Party changed its name into Macedonian People's Party (MNP), on May 26, 1991. The program remained the same, but the confederate element was erased from it. One thing will certainly be remembered as a merit of this party is its demand for rehabilitation of Panko Brasnarov. MNP also was the first party to propose the sun on today's Macedonian flag and strongly insisted on the song "Zemjo Makedonska" (Macedonia Our Land) becoming a national anthem. This party was the initiator of the National Front, which it now considers to be its big mistake, as MNP came out of it manipulated. In the first round it won over 27,000 votes or 2 % of all the voters, which would place it on 8th position in the election race. After all negotiations with the National Front proved purposeless, MNP showed its protest by boycotting the second round of elections. Its membership today counts only about 2,000 members, with a weak financial background, but with a wish not to let its activities die out, proving this with its latest reactions to certain issues.

Democratic Alliance - Party of Farmers in Macedonia

The Democratic Alliance--Party of Farmers in Macedonia also entered the National Front. It was founded in the village of Gorni Polog, near Kocani, and in Novo Selo, near Strumica. It was registered at the beginning of June, 1990, with Dimitar Galev as president. All that was left from this party was its loudness in the elections campaign, its very short appearance as a member of the National Front and its collapse at the elections. Of course, the fact that its membership and leadership fluctuated into other parties remains. What is now remembered of this party is the several loud speeches of some party members (e.g., Mile Nedelkovski) at various tribunes, on which people spoke with too much euphoria and national feelings.

Social Democratic Party

The first party to have been registered in Macedonia is the Social Democratic Party. It was founded with big ambitions, primarily in acting as a promoter of social democracy in Macedonia, and with intellectual membership, expected to be the main trump card at the elections. Slavko Milosavlevski was appointed first president of the party. Yet, it came out of the elections unexpectedly poorly. And all that followed could by no means be taken to be real party activity and influence on the political life in Macedonia. Recently, rumours have appeared on differences and even schisms within the party. Current president of the party is professor Tihomir Jovanovski.

Most of these parties spent the post elections period in a semi-latent state, because of finance and main offices problems and being limited in marketing abilities. This was also followed by dispersion of their membership into the 40 parties formed after the elections. In any case, it would be logical to expect that a part of these parties will consolidate and will equally enter the coming elections. Some of them may even succeed. Having the unpredictable Macedonian voters in mind, everything can be expected.

The text provided by MILS in MAK-NEWS reports in June 1994 was put into HTML format and last updated