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INTERVIEW
If a switch toward one factor that causes this phenomenon, and be adapted to the local context.
electoral district is hence, other institutional measures are
made, it is assumed required towards its elimination. Finally, There was much commotion in the
that the number of the system of open lists can lead to lower public about the voting of the diaspora.
candidates who are representation of women and minorities, What do data show? What do you propose
recognized on a national but there are methods to overcome this regarding the out-of-country voting?
level would increase, i.e. challenge.
people from major cities D. Aleksov: Data show that the vote
would be nominated, Another issue is the number of elec- abroad is worth more than the vote in the
whereby the regional toral districts. What are the strengths Republic of Macedonia, which is contrary
representation would be and weaknesses of the current system to the recommendations of the Venice
lost. On the other hand, of six electoral districts and the possible Commission. Namely, at the parliamen-
it would open the door transition to only one electoral district? tary elections in 2014, the MP from the
to smaller parties unless 9th electoral districtwas elected with 881
a threshold is set D. Aleksov: The six electoral districts votes, while in the Republic of Macedonia
allow representation of all regions in the average number of votes needed for
the Parliament. Although carriers of the election of an MP was 7,689, which means
lists are the leaderships of political par- that the value of vote in the 9th electoral
ties, the lower places are intended for the districtwas almost 9 times the value of the
candidate nominees from the respective vote in the Republic of Macedonia. Given
regions. The disadvantage of the concept the short period until elections in 2016,
of 6 electoral districts is that they create when the focus will be on the more sub-
a so-called natural threshold of about 4 stantial problems of the political system
percent, i.e. in order to elect an MP it is and the election process in the Republic
necessary to win about 8,000 votes in the of Macedonia, we suggest this type of vot-
respective electoral district. If a switch ing to be postponed for the next elections,
toward one electoral district is made, it and then, prior to its reintroduction, to
is assumed that the number of candidates open a broad debate on all aspects - resi-
who are recognized on a national level dential address of Macedonian citizens
would increase, i.e. people from major living abroad, election system, number of
cities would be nominated, whereby the electoral districts, number of MPs, equal-
regional representation would be lost. On ity of vote, manner of voting and so on in
the other hand, it would open the door to order to find a more democratic, more ef-
smaller parties unless a threshold is set. ficient and cheaper solutions that will be
in the interest of all citizens of the Repub-
In this context, the issue of the lic of Macedonia.
threshold is particularly important. What
are the experiences in this regard? In order to reduce inequality of vote
in the Republic of Macedonia compared
D. Aleksov: Experience shows that there with the one overseas, electoral districts
is no country with one electoral district abroad could be merged into one and the
and without a threshold. The threshold number of MPs elected in them could be
is expressed as a percentage of the total reduced, or it could depend on the ratio
number of voters who voted in the respec- between the voter turnout abroad, and
tive elections. It ranges from 0.67 percent the turnout in the country, as was the
in the Netherlands to 10% in Turkey, but case until 2010 in Croatia. There is anoth-
usually it is about 5 percent. After all, Slo- er possibility, which is more often seen in
vakia and Kosovo, which are two of the the comparative analyzes and research,
three countries with 1 electoral districtin according to which citizens living abroad
Europe (including the Netherlands) also do not elect their representatives in the
have a threshold of 5 percent. I must note parliament into special electoral districts
that the solutions can not be directly cop- outside the territory of their home coun-
ied from other countries, but they should try, but their votes are counted in the
home country, according to the address
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