The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has rejected the results of the recent snap general election, narrowly won by the governing VMRO-DPMNE party, and filed objections to the state election commission (SEC). The Besa party, which surprisingly emerged as the second largest political force representing the ethnic Albanian minority, also filed complaints.

The election was intended to resolve the political crisis in the country, but the latest developments indicate that prolongation of the crisis is quite possible. 

According to official results released by the SEC on December 12, VMRO-DPMNE gained 51 seats while SDSM won 49 seats in the 120-member parliament. Another 20 mandates were won by four ethnic Albanian parties: the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) which is the junior partner in the outgoing government (10 seats), Besa (five), the Alliance of Albanians (three) and the Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA, two).

SDSM and Besa filed six and eight objections respectively to the SEC on December 13, news agency MIA reported.

The NGO Civil said that a re-vote should be held at 30 polling stations due to serious violations of voting rights which could drastically change the results, 24 vesti reported on December 13.

At a news conference in Skopje, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said he expects the results to be corrected since the data provided by the party’s observers at the polling stations in the sixth electoral district, populated mainly by ethnic Albanians, were different from the official results released by the SEC.

Macedonians vote in six electoral districts each electing 20 MPs. The diaspora, which had the chance to fill three seats, failed to elect representatives due to the low turnout.

Zaev said he expects the final results from the SEC to “show the real winner”. He claimed that SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE should each have 50 seats in the parliament.

“Citizens decided that there is no place for politicians like [VMRO-DPMNE leader] Nikola Gruevski. They want a better life and independent institutions under the rule of law,” Zaev said.

According to Zaev, Gruevski, who is regarded as an authoritarian leader, should not be allowed to form a new government.

Following Zaev’s news conference, Vlatko Gjorcev from VMRO-DPMNE warned that his party would not allow the SDSM to “steal the election victory” and that any alteration of the election results would cause anger among VMRO voters.

Earlier on December 13, Gruevski said that the negotiations on the formation of new government would start immediately.

President Gjorge Ivanov has announced he will give the mandate to form a new government to the party with a majority of seats in the parliament.

Meanwhile, the leaders of the ethnic Albanian parties, which will have representatives in the Macedonian parliament, were invited to hold separate meetings with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana, broadcaster 24vesti reported.The reasons for the meetings were not disclosed.