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Parliament name (generic / translated) Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Unicameral Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 1994 - LEADERSHIP President Trajko Veljanoski (M)  Notes Elected on 21 June 2008, re-elected on 25 June 2011. Secretary General Zarko Denkovski (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 123 / 123 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 38 (30.89%) Mode of designation directly elected 123 Term 4 years Last renewal dates 5 June 2011 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Sobranie na Republika Makedonija Bul. 11, Oktomvri B.B. 1000 SKOPJE (Export mailing lists) Phone (3892) 3112 255 3113 753 Fax (3892) 3111 675 3135 401 E-mail sobranie@sobranie.mk Website http://www.sobranie.mk/

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic Structure of parliament Unicameral LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 21 September 1990 Last amended: 13 April 2011 Mode of designation directly elected 123 Constituencies - Six multi-member constituencies (20 seats each) in the country; - Three single-member constituencies abroad: (1) Europe and Africa; (2) the Americas; and (3) Australia and Asia. Voting system Mixed: - 120 members are elected by party list proportional system, using closed lists. At least 30 per cent of the candidates on each list must be of a different sex. Each voter votes for a list and seats are distributed on a proportional basis, according to the d'Hondt formula. There is no threshold for parliamentary representation under this system. - The remaining three members are elected under the first-past-the-post system. The ballot paper contains the lists of political party candidates and/or independent candidates. Each voter votes for one list. In order to be elected, a list (whether of a political party or independent candidates) needs to obtain at least 2 per cent of the registered votes in its respective constituency. If no candidate passes the threshold, fresh elections are called. - Vacancies arising between general elections among the members elected under the proportional representation system are filled by the "next-in-line" candidates of the same party. - Vacancies for the constituencies abroad are filled through by-elections Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years - FYR Macedonian citizenship (including naturalized citizens) Disqualifications: civil incapacity to perform legal acts, holders of temporary entry permits and undocumented immigrants CANDIDATES Eligibility - qualified electors - age: 18 years - FYR Macedonian citizenship (including naturalized citizens) Ineligibilities: any imprisonment, persons serving sentences, holders of temporary entry permits, undocumented immigrants, executives of the Electoral Commission, members of the Electoral Commission Incompatibilities - President of the Republic - Prime Minister - Ministers - Judges of the Constitutional Court - Public prosecutor - Ombudsman - Mayor or member of a council in a municipality or the city of Skopje - holders of other elective office - holders of offices appointed by the Assembly or the Government - persons in charge of administrative matters in state administration bodies Candidacy requirements - nomination by registered political parties, individually or two or more parties, which can jointly submit a party list of candidates - nomination by a group of voters: at least 1,000 signatures of the voters of the constituency concerned - submission of candidatures at least 40 days prior to polling

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic Structure of parliament Unicameral BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 5 June 2011 Timing and scope of renewal Elections were held for all seats in the Assembly following the premature dissolution of this body on 14 April 2011. Elections had previously been held in June 2008. On 14 April 2011, the Assembly of the Republic voted to dissolve itself, paving the way for early elections. The following day, Speaker Trajko Veljanoski called elections for 5 June, one year earlier than they were constitutionally due. At stake were 123 seats in the Assembly of the Republic, up from 120. For the first time, Macedonians living abroad were entitled to vote and elect three members. In the previous elections held in June 2008, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE - "For a Better Macedonia" Coalition took 63 of the 120 seats at stake, with its ally, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), taking 18. The "Sun-Coalition for Europe", comprising the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), took 27 seats while the Democratic Party of the Albanians (PDA) took 17. The remaining seat went to a small party. The DUI and the PDA draw support from the ethnic Albanian community, which accounts for a quarter of the country's 2.1 million inhabitants. Following the elections, Prime Minister Gruevski formed another coalition government comprising his VMRO-DPMNE and the DUI. The 2008 elections had been called after Greece vetoed the country's bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as a result of a dispute over the use of the country's name. Prime Minister Gruevski had pledged to use the name "Republic of Macedonia" as set forth in the country's constitution. Greece, which has a northern province with the same name, rejected the nomenclature for fear of an eventual territorial claim and insisted that it should be changed to "New Macedonia" or "Upper Macedonia". In December 2008, the Macedonian Government brought the issue to the International Court of Justice in the Hague which started the hearing in March 2011. In May 2009, Mr. Gjorgje Ivanov, backed by the VMRO-DPMNE, won the run-off presidential elections, pledging to resolve the name row. In August 2009, the PDA, which had been pushing to make Albanian the second official language, started to boycott parliament. The PDA urged the DUI to leave the government but the latter refused. The PDA continued to boycott parliament until the parliament was dissolved in April 2011. The dissolution of parliament was indirectly triggered by the SDSM's protest against police investigations at the country's biggest private television channel, A1 TV. On 25 November 2010, the police raided A1 TV, which had reportedly been critical of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE coalition. The Interior Minister initially said that the raid targeted several companies located in the same building that were suspected of fraud. The SDSM accused the government of trying to pressure A1 TV. On 5 December, the SDSM organized a protest in front of the parliament building and submitted a formal request for the dissolution of the Assembly of the Republic. On 26 December, the owner of A1 TV and several executives were arrested on charges of tax evasion, abuse of office and money laundering and the TV station's bank account was blocked. On 28 January 2011, the SDSM announced that it would no longer participate in the parliament in protest over what it termed the undemocratic rule of the ruling coalition. It demanded the unfreezing of A1 TV's bank account and early parliamentary elections. Small opposition parties joined the parliament boycott. The Prime Minister initially rejected the opposition's demand for early elections. However, after a stand-off of nearly a month, on 23 February, he agreed to hold early elections. On 8 March, the government adopted changes to the electoral code that would also govern the voting rights of Macedonian citizens living abroad. The Prime Minister urged the opposition parties to return to parliament. However, on 3 April, the Assembly of the Republic passed amendments to the electoral code in a session boycotted by the opposition parties, which had demanded that political party representatives be on the election commission. In all, 18 lists submitted by coalitions and parties were vying for seats in 2011. The major contenders were two coalitions, led by the VMRO-DPMNE and the SDSM (see note). On 18 May, A1 TV announced that it would side with the opposition in the 2011 elections. Prime Minister Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE coalition presented a manifesto for reform and development. It ran on the government's record, promising to continue to reduce taxes, provide more jobs, better education, more scholarship as well as better health care. He promised to "maintain good inter-ethnic relations" in the country and invest more in the Roma minority. He pledged to renew efforts to join NATO and the European Union (EU) by tackling corruption and organized crime. The DUI, led by Mr. Ali Ahmeti, also promised to work for the country's accession to the EU and NATO. The SDSM coalition, led by former president Branko Crvenkovski, criticized the government's economic policies, which in his view, had failed to create sufficient jobs, had doubled the external debt and had increased the poverty rate. He argued that the country could not afford another "mistake" by continuing the same policy in the new legislature. He promised to speed up the country's bid to join the EU. The PDA, led by Mr. Menduh Thaci, promised to promote a bicameral parliament and work for the country's accession to both the EU and NATO. The PDA pledged to improve the life of ethnic Albanians who, in his view, are deprived of jobs and other rights and live in poverty. In addition to the DUI and the PDA, a new ethnic Albanian party, the National Democratic Revival (NDR), participated in the 2011 elections. NDR leader Rufi Osmani criticized the policies of the DUI and the PDA. He urged voters' support for the NDR, arguing that his expert team would restore the trust of ethnic Albanian community. In all, 63.48 per cent of the 1.8 million registered voters turned out at the polls. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), and the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly praised the peaceful conduct of the voting, but expressed concern over isolated cases of irregularities and the accuracy of voting lists. The VMRO-DPMNE coalition remained the largest party with 56 seats, but failed to secure a majority in the new legislature. The SDSM coalition came in second with 42 seats. The DUI and the DPA took 15 and eight seats respectively. The NDR took the remaining two seats. In all, 34 women were elected. On 25 June, the newly elected Assembly of the Republic held its first session and re-elected Mr. Trajko Veljanoski (VMRO DPMNE) as its Speaker. On 28 June, President Ivanov tasked outgoing Prime Minister Gruevski with forming a new government. On 28 July, the Assembly of the Republic endorsed Mr. Gruevski's new government comprising the VMRO DPMNE and the DUI. Note: The VMRO-DPMNE coalition for the 2011 elections included the following parties: - VMRO-DPMNE - Socialist Party of Macedonia - Democratic Union - Democratic Renewal of Macedonia - Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia - Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia - Union of Roma in Macedonia - United Party for Emancipation - Party of Justice - Party for Democratic Action in Macedonia - SDA - Party of Vlachs in Macedonia - Party for the Integration of Roma - Bosniaks' Democratic Party - BDP - People's Movement for Macedonia - VMRO - Macedonian - Democratic Forces of the Roma - RZP* - Permanent Macedonian Radical Reunion - TMRO* - New Liberal Party* - VMRO -Democratic Party (VMRO - DP)* - VMRO - United (VMRO - UN)* - Homeland Macedonian or Organization for Radical Reconstruction (VARDAR - EGEJ - PIRIN - TMRO -VEP)* - Macedonian Alliance* *The parties with (*) were not part of the VMRO-DPMNE - "For a Better Macedonia" in 2008. The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia coalition (SDSM) comprised the following parties: - Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) - New Social Democratic Party (NSDP) - Liberal Party of Macedonia - New Alternative - Democratic Union of Vlachs in Macedonia - Party of Pensioners of the Republic of Macedonia - Party for European Future** - Movement of National Unity of Turks in Macedonia** - Serbian Advanced Party in Macedonia** - Party for Total Emancipation of Roma** - Alliance for Tito's Left Forces** - Party for Movement of the Turks in Macedonia** - Party of Free Democrats** - SANDZAK's League** **The parties with (**) were not in part of the "Sun - Coalition for Europe", an opposition coalition led by the SDSM in 2008. STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 5 June 2011 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 1'821'122 1'156'085 (63.48%) 1'094'999 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition 440'821 40.26 SDSM-led coalition 368'487 33.65 Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) 115'095 10.51 Democratic Party of the Albanians (DPA) 66'315 6.06 National Democratic Revival (NDR) 29'966 2.74 Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition 56 SDSM-led coalition 42 Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) 15 Democratic Party of the Albanians (DPA) 8 National Democratic Revival (NDR) 2 Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 89 34 27.64% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note on the distribution of seats according to sex: Thirty-four women were elected in the June 2011 elections. Seven members elect, all mayors, did not take up their parliamentary mandate. They were replaced by "next-in-line" candidates from the same party, raising the number of female parliamentarians to 38. The number of women remained unchanged after the formation of the new government in July 2011. Assembly of the Republic (30.06.2011, 04.08.2011) Sources: Assembly of the Republic (16.06.2011, 30.06.2011) http://217.16.84.11/Default.aspx

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic Structure of parliament Unicameral APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Assembly of the Republic Term - duration: 4 years (term of House); elected on 19/11/98 - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution of Parliament Appointment - elected by all MPs - election is held at the first constitutive session of the Assembly - election is held after Members' mandates have been validated Eligibility - any MP may be candidate - formal notification of candidatures have to be submitted by the Assembly Commission for Issues on Elections and Appointments or by at least 20 MPs - candidatures are proposed at the first sitting of the new Assembly Voting system - formal vote by public ballot (by show of hands) or secret ballot if the Assembly so decides - a majority of votes cast of the MPs present is required in the first round - if no candidate obtains the required majority in the first round, several rounds are held; the second and subsequent rounds are held between the two candidates having obtained the largest number of votes Procedures / results - the oldest MP presides over the Assembly during the voting - all MPs supervise the voting - the oldest MP announces the results without any delay - the results are confirmed by the Assembly - the results can be challenged if the vote has been public and if one MP, with the support of 10 other MPs, requests a verification STATUS Status - ranks second in the hierarchy of State after the President of the Republic and he is called upon as acting Head of State in the event of a vacancy - represents the Assembly with the public authorities - represents the Assembly in international bodies - is ex officio member of the Council of Inter-Ethnic Relations - in the absence of the President of the Assembly, one of the Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities - same salary as the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister - official car - body guards FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - proposes the agenda which can be altered at the request of MPs and Government - organizes the debates and sets speaking time, with the agreement of MPs - refers texts to a committee for study - may propose to set up committees of enquiry, but the Assembly will take the final decision The MPs examine the admissibility of bills and amendments Chairing of public sittings - can open, adjourn and close sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Assembly together with the Vice-Presidents Special powers - is responsible for establishing the Assembly's budget - recruits, assigns and promotes staff together with the Secretary General - plays a specific role in the appointment of the Secretary General - organizes the services of Parliament together with the Vice-Presidents - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the security service in the event of disturbance in the Chamber Speaking and voting rights, other functions - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the security service in the event of disturbance in the Chamber

Parliament name (generic / translated) Sobranie / Assembly of the Republic Structure of parliament Unicameral NATURE Nature of the mandate · Free representation (Art. 62 (3) of the Constitution of 17.11.1991, as amended up to and including 06.01.1992) Start of the mandate · When the mandates are validated (Art. 20 (1) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, see Validation of mandates) Validation of mandates · Validation by the Assembly (Art. 63 (1) of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. 5 to 11 of the Temporary Regulations of the Assembly of the Socialistic Republic of Macedonia) End of the mandate · On the day when the newly elected Parliament meets (for early dissolution, see Art. 63 (5) of the Constitution) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will (Art. 65 (1) of the Constitution) · Procedure (Art. 65 (2) of the Constitution): the representative submits his resignation in person at a session of the Assembly. · Authority competent to accept the resignation: the resignation does not need to be accepted Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) No revocation before expiry of mandate (Art. 62 (4) of the Constitution) (b) Definitive exclusion from Parliament by the latter (Art. 65 (4) of the Constitution): - Commission of a criminal offence making the person unfit to perform the office of a representative - Absence from the Assembly for longer than 6 months for no justifiable reason - General procedure: decision of the Assembly by a two-thirds majority vote of all representatives (c) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: sentence for criminal offence for which a prison sentence of at least five years is prescribed (Art. 65 (3) of the Constitution) STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The President 2. The Vice-Presidents 3. The Chairmen of permanent and temporary working bodies 4. The Co-ordinators of parliamentary groups 5. The other MPs Indemnities, facilities and services · Diplomatic passport (Law on Travel Documents of the Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia) · Basic salary (Art. 64 (6) of the Constitution, Law on Salaries and Other Indemnities of the Representatives in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and Other Elected and Appointed Officials in the Republic of Macedonia): MKD 18.977, if chosen + Representative Allowance: MKD 5.360 per month · The basic salary is not tax exempt. The Representative Allowance is taxed with personal income tax, but exempt from contributions. · Pension scheme · Other facilities: (a) Secretariat/assistants (see also Art. 62 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia): Service of the Assembly; cabinet for the President and Vice-Presidents; technical secretaries for the Co-ordinators of parliamentary groups and for the parliamentary groups (c) Official housing for the representatives who receive a salary in the Assembly (d) Official cars of the Assembly, for official duties and for the President and the Vice-Presidents (e) Travel and transport: free railway and bus transport Obligation to declare personal assets No Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does exist (Art. 64 (1) and (2) of the Constitution). · Parliamentary non-accountability is limited to words spoken or written by MPs and votes cast within Parliament. · No derogations are foreseen. · Non-accountability takes effect on the day when the mandate begins. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does exist (Art. 64 (1) and (3) of the Constitution). · It applies only to criminal proceedings, covers all offences with the exception of minor offences (infringements) and protects MPs only from arrest and from being held in preventive custody. See also Loss of mandate - (b), and (c). · Derogations: when caught in flagrante delicto, committing a criminal offence for which a prison sentence of at least five years is prescribed, a representative can be detained. · Parliamentary inviolability does not prevent MPs from being called as witnesses before a judge or tribunal. · Protection is provided from the start to the end of the mandate. Since it does not cover judicial proceedings in general, it does not cover judicial proceedings instituted against MPs before their election. · Parliamentary immunity (inviolability) can be lifted (Art. 64 (3) of the Constitution): - Competent authority: the Assembly, on recommendation of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Issues of Mandate and Immunity - Procedure (Art. 64 (4) of the Constitution). · Parliament cannot subject the prosecution and/or detention to certain conditions. · Parliament cannot suspend the prosecution and/or detention of one of its members. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is no training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · Handbooks of parliamentary procedure: - Temporary Regulations of the Assembly of the Socialistic Republic of Macedonia - Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings, meetings of working bodies and other meetings (Art. 26 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia). For leave of absence, see Art. 28 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. · Penalties foreseen in case of failure to fulfil this obligation (Art. 65 (4) of the Constitution): loss of mandate · Body competent to judge such cases/to impose penalties: the Assembly Discipline · The rules governing discipline within Parliament are contained in Art. 108 to 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia. · Disciplinary measures foreseen: - Warning (Art. 109 and 110 (1) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia) - Order to cease speaking (Art. 109 and 110 (2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia) - Adjournment of the sitting (Art. 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia) · Specific cases: - MPs cannot be accused of offending or insulting Parliament. · Competent body to judge such cases/to impose penalties (Art. 108 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia): the President · Procedure (Art. 109 to 111 of the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia) Code (rules) of conduct · This concept does not exist in the country's juridical system. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field.

This page was last updated on 5 August 2011
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