Past Election Results in Macedonia

Macedonian Parliament | Photo by: Balkan Insight

November 11, 1990:

The first multi-party parliamentary elections in Macedonia were held in turbulent times as the former Yugoslav federation dissolved.

The main battle was waged between the League of Communists of Macedonia, Party of Democratic Prosperity, SKM-PDM, the successor to the old Communist Party and the right-wing VMRO-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, VMRO DPMNE, which represented more nationalistic forces. The main issue was whether to pursue greater independence from Yugoslavia. After the polls, the SKM-PDP rebranded itself as the Social Democratic Party.

VMRO-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, led by Ljubco Georgievski:
Seats Won: 37

SKM-Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Petar Gosev:
Seats Won: 30

Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Nevzat Halili:
Seats Won: 17

Alliance of Reformists, led by Stojan Andov:
Seats Won: 11

Party for Democratic Prosperity- National Democratic Party, led by Abdurahman Aliti:
Seats Won: 5

Socialist Party of Macedonia, led by Ljubisav Ivanov:
Seats Won: 4

Smaller parties:
Seats Won: 13

Independent candidates:
Seats Won: 3

VMRO-DPMNE won more seats than the Social Democrats but MPs decided to back an experts’ government under Nikola Kljusev, tasked with laying the foundations of Macedonian statehood as the country proclaimed independence in 1991.

The Kljusev government lasted until 1992, when a mandate was given to VMRO-DPMNE to form a government. Unable to secure a majority, it returned the mandate, after which the Social Democrats, now under Branko Crvenkovski, formed the government. The ethnic Albanian Party for Democratic Prosperity joined the government, inaugurating the since un-written tradition that the largest ethnic Albanian party should always be invited to join the government after each election.


October 16 and 30, 1994

The elections were held in two rounds. The main battle was waged between the Social Democratic Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski, promising reforms and moves to join the EU and NATO, and VMRO-DPMNE, under Ljubco Georgievski, which accused the ruling coalition of corruption and of conceding too much to ethnic Albanians.

Social Democrats, led by Branko Crvenkovski:
Seats Won: 60

VMRO-DPMNE, led by Ljubco Georgievski:
Seats Won: 0

Liberal Party, led by Stojan Andov:
Seats Won: 29

Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Nevzat Halili:
Seats Won: 11

Socialist Party of Macedonia, led by Ljubisav Ivanov:
Seats Won: 9

Other smaller parties:
Seats Won: 11

After the first round, VMRO-DPMNE blamed the election result on fraud and boycotted the rest of the election. The party stayed outside parliament for the entire four-year term. This gave absolute power to Crvenkovski who formed a ruling coalition called “The Alliance for Macedonia”. The Social Democrats’ partnership with the [Albanian] Party for Democratic Prosperity continued.


October 18-November 2, 1998

After six years of rule by “The Alliance for Macedonia”, victory in 1998 went to VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition partner, the centrist Democratic Alternative. These elections were conducted in two rounds.

VMRO-DPMNE and Democratic Alternative, led by Ljubco Georgievski and Vasil Tupurkovski:
Seats won: 62

Social Democrats, led by Branko Crvenkovski:
Seats won: 27

Liberal Democratic Party, led by Petar Gosev:
Seats won: 4

Party for Democratic Prosperity and National Democratic Party coalition, led by Abdurahman Aliti and Arben Xhaferi:
Seats won: 25

Socialist Party of Macedonia, led by Ljubisav Ivanov:
Seats won: 1

Union of Roma in Macedonia, led by Amdi Bajram:
Seats won: 1


September 15, 2002

After the 2001 conflict between Albanian militants and the security forces, a peace accord was signed in Ohrid and a broad coalition formed. The winner of the 2002 elections was the coalition “Together for Macedonia”, led by the Social Democrats, which promised to deliver the country from ethnic conflict and initiate an economic upturn.

“Together for Macedonia” coalition, led by Branko Crvenkovski:
Seats won: 60

VMRO-DPMNE and Liberal Party coalition, led by Ljubco Georgievski and Stojan Andov:
Seats won: 33

Democratic Union for Integration, led by Ali Ahmeti:
Seats won: 16

Democratic Party of Albanians, led by Arben Xhaferi:
Seats won: 7

Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Abduladi Vejseli:
Seats won: 2

Socialist Party of Macedonia, led by Ljubisav Ivanov
Seats won: 1

National Democratic Party, led by Dzezair Shakiri
Seats won: 1


July 5, 2006

The battle was fought between the new VMRO-DPMNE leader, Nikola Gruevski, and Social Democrats, under Vlado Buckovski, who succeeded Branko Crvenkovski. These were both leaders’ first election since becoming party leaders. The VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition won on promises of economic renewal.

VMRO-DPMNE coalition, led by Nikola Gruevski:
Seats won: 45

Social Democrat coalition, led by Vlado Buckovski:
Seats won: 32

Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, and Party for Democratic Prosperity coalition, led by Ali Ahmeti and Abduladi Vejseli:
Seats won: 17

Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, led by Arben Xhaferi:
Seats won: 11

New Social Democrats, led by Tito Petkovski:
Seats won: 7

VMRO-Peoples Party, led by Vesna Janevska:
Seats won: 6

Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, led by Liljana Popovska:
Seats won: 1

Party for European Future, led by Fijat Canovski;
Seats won: 1

The results showed a clear victory for the VMRO-DPMNE coalition. Most Albanian votes went to the DUI-PDP coalition.

After unsuccessful negotiations between VMRO-DPMNE and the DUI, Gruevski turned to the DPA. In August 2006, Gruevski announced a new government composed of VMRO-DPMNE, the DPA, NSDP, DOM, and PEI, holding 65 seats in parliament.


June 1, 2008

Early elections followed months after the country failed to obtain an invitation to join NATO, as a result of Greek opposition linked to the dispute over Macedonia’s name. The vote was held after the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party supported the call by the opposition Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, for snap polls. The main battle was waged between Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of VMRO-DPMNE and Radmila Shekerinska, new leader of the opposition Social Democrats. The VMRO-DPMNE coalition won on a defiantly nationalist policy as regards the name dispute with Greece.

VMRO-DPMNE coalition, led by Nikola Gruevski:
Seats won: 63

Social Democrat coalition, led by Radmila Shekerinska:
Seats won: 27

Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, led by Ali Ahmeti:
Seats won: 18

Democratic Party of Albanians, DPA, led by Arben Xhaferi:
Seats won: 12

VMRO-DPMNE strengthened its position, winning a landslide over the Social Democrats. Gruevski this time rebuffed its traditional ethnic Albanian partner, the DPA, and included the DUI in the new government, which held a total of 81 seats. Following her crushing defeat in the elections, Shekerinska resigned as head of the Social Democrats.

This article was made possible through the support of the National Endowment for Democracy.