Q&A: Macedonia election

The campaign has not always been this peaceful

Macedonia goes to the polls on 5 July to elect a new parliament for four years.

Macedonia was granted EU candidate status in December 2005 and western diplomats stress that the election is a key test of the country's democratic credentials.

The last poll in 2002 was marred by a number of incidents, including the killing of policemen, hostage-taking and attacks on party offices and media representatives.

What is the political system?

Macedonia is a multi-party, parliamentary democracy where coalition governments are the norm. The single-chamber Assembly comprises 120 deputies, who are returned by proportional representation from six electoral districts.

The prime minister is elected by the Assembly following the election; the Council of Ministers or cabinet is elected by majority vote of all the deputies in the Assembly.

Who can vote?

A total of 1,741,449 voters are registered to cast their ballots at 2,976 polling stations, between 0500 and 1700GMT. Around 2,700 candidates from 33 parties and coalitions will contest the 120 Assembly seats.

The State Election Commission will announce final results within 24 hours of the polls closing.

What are the issues?

With a population of just over two million, Macedonia is one of the most impoverished countries in Europe.

A weak economy, the undetermined status of the neighbouring Albanian-majority Kosovo province of Serbia, and implementation of the Framework Agreement which ended the 2001 ethnic Albanian armed insurgency continue to be the main challenges.

The Albanian minority comprises around 25% of the Macedonian population. Many complain that the reform policies pursued by the government have done little to create jobs or boost wages.

How has the campaign been run?

There have been almost daily instances of low-level violence during the campaign, such as armed clashes between party activists and attacks on campaign offices in Albanian areas.

Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski has said he does not want a "hollow" victory marred by violence, and that Macedonia needs fair and democratic elections. The international community has also warned that such incidents harm Macedonia's chances of joining Nato and the EU.

Who will monitor the poll?

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will send 18 experts, 18 long-term observers and 250 short-term observers. Domestic observers will include 124 monitors drawn from the MOST civic association.

The mission will assess the election process in terms of compliance with Macedonia's OSCE commitments and international standards.

What happened last time?

After the 2002 elections, the For Macedonia Together coalition formed a government having won 60 seats - (Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM), 43; Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), 12; Others, 5).

The main opposition Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) with its coalition partner the Liberal Party of Macedonia won 33 seats.

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