13 arrests during Macedonian re-vote

Police have arrested 13 people over incidents that took place during the parliamentary re-vote in Macedonia. Three of those arrested were from the village of Sedlarevo near Tetovo. 13 arrests during Macedonian re-vote They were arrested for voting on behalf of other people. The fourth is a former police officer, recently suspended from duty after participating in a physical attack on a cameraman from the Alsat M television station, who is accused of trying to obstruct voting and of being in the illegal possession of a firearm. The Interior Minister stated that a total of 160 people had been arrested over election irregularities since June 1, and that 30 of them remained in custody. Among them is senior Albanian Democratic Union for Integration official Talat Xhaferi, who is a parliamentary candidate and a former deputy defense minister. At the June 1 election, he threatened to have a police officer killed if three people arrested for theft during a DUI pre-election rally were not released. The police stated that they had cleared up and documented 36 cases relating to obstruction of the electoral process. The elections remained in the shadow of the armed conflicts in parts of Macedonia inhabited by majority- Albanian populations, which led to one person being killed and nine injured. The election campaign was also marred by violence between opposing Albanian parties, which led to the death of one other person. On Sunday, re-votes were held at 187 polling stations in Macedonia where the June 1 results had been declared null and void because of incidents and irregularities. 161,874 voters or roughly ten percent of registered voters in Macedonia in regions with predominantly Albanian populations took part in the re-vote, the largest in Macedonia’s 17-year history as an independent state. International observers stated that the security situation had been better during the re-vote. OSCE and Council of Europe officials said that even though the vote had gone well, it did not alter the fact that the election process had not lived up to some of the key requirements of those institutions. U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Jillian Milovanovic said that the re-vote had been a significant improvement on the initial ballot. ] The state electoral commission confirmed that the winner of the parliamentary elections was the “For a Better Macedonia” coalition, led by the VMRO-DPMNE, which won 63 of the 120 seats up for grabs. Second was the “Sun” Coalition for Europe with 27 seats. The DUI won 18 seats, the DPA 11, and one seat was taken by the Party for a European Future.

13 arrests during Macedonian re-vote

They were arrested for voting on behalf of other people. The fourth is a former police officer, recently suspended from duty after participating in a physical attack on a cameraman from the Alsat M television station, who is accused of trying to obstruct voting and of being in the illegal possession of a firearm.

The Interior Minister stated that a total of 160 people had been arrested over election irregularities since June 1, and that 30 of them remained in custody.

Among them is senior Albanian Democratic Union for Integration official Talat Xhaferi, who is a parliamentary candidate and a former deputy defense minister.

At the June 1 election, he threatened to have a police officer killed if three people arrested for theft during a DUI pre-election rally were not released.

The police stated that they had cleared up and documented 36 cases relating to obstruction of the electoral process.

The elections remained in the shadow of the armed conflicts in parts of Macedonia inhabited by majority- Albanian populations, which led to one person being killed and nine injured.

The election campaign was also marred by violence between opposing Albanian parties, which led to the death of one other person.

On Sunday, re-votes were held at 187 polling stations in Macedonia where the June 1 results had been declared null and void because of incidents and irregularities.

161,874 voters or roughly ten percent of registered voters in Macedonia in regions with predominantly Albanian populations took part in the re-vote, the largest in Macedonia’s 17-year history as an independent state.

International observers stated that the security situation had been better during the re-vote.

OSCE and Council of Europe officials said that even though the vote had gone well, it did not alter the fact that the election process had not lived up to some of the key requirements of those institutions.

U.S. Ambassador to Macedonia Jillian Milovanovic said that the re-vote had been a significant improvement on the initial ballot. ]

The state electoral commission confirmed that the winner of the parliamentary elections was the “For a Better Macedonia” coalition, led by the VMRO-DPMNE, which won 63 of the 120 seats up for grabs.

Second was the “Sun” Coalition for Europe with 27 seats. The DUI won 18 seats, the DPA 11, and one seat was taken by the Party for a European Future.