Macedonia's Opposition Woos Ashtray Vote

About half of all adult Macedonians are smokers | Photo by: Tomasz Sienicki

In their newly revealed election manifesto, the Social Democrats say they will amend tough anti-smoking laws within 100 days of coming to power.

Macedonia goes to the polls on June 5 in an early general election that the incumbent VMRO-DPMNE party, led by Nikola Gruevski, is tipped to win.

The current law, adopted early in 2010, bans puffing in bars, clubs and cafes and stipulates harsh fines for law-breakers.

The law prescribes penalties up to 4,500 euros for owners of offending establishments and fines of up to 430 euros for individuals caught puffing where they should not.

The opposition says it will let owners establishments register their premises as smoking or non-smoking venues.

Hoping to appeal to the country’s many smokers, the party manifesto says that it “above all believes in the freedom of choice whether someone smokes or not”.

About half the adults among the 2.1 million people in Macedonia are smokers.

When the ban was introduced, the Health Minister, Bujar Osmani, insisted that it would improve the general health of the population, though no studies have been produced as yet, showing whether this is true or not.

The Economy Minister, Fatmir Besimi, claimed that the hospitality industry would not suffer from the ban.

Ferhan Berberi, head of the local chamber of hospitality establishments, disagrees, saying the law has damaged the industry greatly. 

He says many people disobey the law anyway. “People feel annoyed by the law," he said. "Despite all the inspections, smoking in public places such as bars, discotheques, sporting arenas and offices is ever-present," he added.

The law was modified slightly in March 2010 to allow smoking on outside terraces of hospitality establishments, a measure that makes a difference only in summer, during warm weather, however.