Page 28 - E&B_septemvri 2015 ENG.indd
P. 28
INTERVIEW
of the proportional systems). Moreover, D. Aleksov: As there will be competition
candidates would be more motivated to inside the parties themselves, instead of
fulfill the promises, for which at the fol- increasing intra-democracy, formation
lowing elections they would be adequately of new parties may take place. However,
rewarded or punished; citizens will know for the proportional model the same rule
exactly whom to hold responsible, and the is generally applied and it is that it pro-
parties will propose high quality candi- motes a larger number of parties, but in
dates and candidates from all areas and the Republic of Macedonia after the in-
strata of society with the aim of winning troduction of the proportional system in
more votes. In addition it might lead to an 2002 there was no increase in the number
increase in the intra-party democracy as a of parties that have the power to win a
long-term effect. larger number ofMP seats in the parlia-
ment. Furthermore, there are certain
I suppose party leaders would not be remarks that voting would be more com-
very happy with open lists because in the plicated for the citizens, but experience
election of candidates for MPs the quality shows that the number of invalid bal-
of the candidate comes to the forefront, lots is almost the same in both the open
according to how voters perceive that systems, and in the systems with closed
candidate, while the close relation of the lists. The third remark is that the open
candidate for MP with the party leader is lists can lead to stimulation of vote buy-
less important. Are there shortcomings in ing (clientelism). However, buying votes is
the system of open lists? present also in the current system, which
means that the election system is not the
28 September 2015
