2008 Macedonian parliamentary election

The early elections were proposed by the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) after Greece vetoed Macedonia's bid to join NATO at the 2008 Bucharest summit over the Macedonia naming dispute. The DUI's request was supported by the ruling coalition of VMRO–DPMNE and the Democratic Party of Albanians. Although the opposition Social Democratic Union and Liberal Democratic Party boycotted the vote, 70 of the 120 MPs voted in favour of the motion, with all others absent from the vote.

Elections had not been due until 2010,[1] and these were the first early elections since independence in 1991.[2]

The two major parties formed coalitions before the elections. VMRO-DPMNE formed a coalition called "For a Better Macedonia", whilst the SDSM formed the eight-party "Sun – Coalition for Europe" alliance.[3]

According to a poll of 1,108 citizens taken between 11 April and 15 April 2008, VMRO-DPMNE had a 29% rating, followed by SDSM with 11% and DUI with 10%.[4] A poll from 24 April and 25 April 2008 gave VMRO-DPMNE 26%, SDSM 12%, DUI 11% and DPA 7%.[5]

Other polls saw For a Better Macedonia lead with 37% to Sun's 18%, followed by DUI with 11% and DPA with 6%.[6]

The tense elections involved episodes of violence, mostly between rival ethnic Albanian parties, the DUI and DPA. Shootings were reported in the Albanian-populated North-West of the country.[7] A gunman opened fire on a Macedonian police unit patrolling the village of Aračinovo, north of the capital Skopje.[8] One person was killed and several were wounded.[9]

The situation appeared to have calmed down by the time polls closed at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT).[10]

There were also reports of ballot stuffing and allegations of fraud in villages around Skopje during the early hours of voting.[11]

Due to violence on the polling day, polling had to be repeated in parts of three election districts (193 polling stations out of 2,976)[12][13] on 15 June 2008; about 170,000 voters were eligible to vote in the rerun,[14] and the results determined which of the two main Albanian parties will join VMRO–DPMNE in government.[15]

The Party for Democratic Prosperity announced after the election on 3 June 2008 that it would merge with the DPA, effectively making the DPA the larger of the two main Albanian parties and increasing its chances in the repeated elections.[16]