Macedonian President ‘Started Election Campaign Early’

Macedonian President, Gjorge Ivanov | Photo by: VMRO DPMNE

The DIK has ruled that Ivanov broke the electoral code when he published a report on his presidential work on March 14, ten days before the start of the presidential election campaign on March 24.

Apart from starting his campaign too early, the head of the DIK, Nikola Rilkoski, said Ivanov had misused his office by using state money to finance publication of his report.

“This is a misuse of office. The election campaign must not be financed from the state budget and there is no dilemma that what he did was a clear [part of the] election campaign,” Rilkoski said.

Ivanov’s campaign will not suffer much from the charges against him. The maximum fine ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 euros.

Ivanov also has the right to appeal the DIK decision before the administrative court.

The majority of the Commission members ruled that while Ivanov had a right to report on his past presidential work, he should have done so before he entered the presidential race for the main ruling VMRO DPMNE party.

The DIK decision, acting on a complaint submitted by the main opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, was not brought unanimously.

Three out of seven members of the Commission voted against it.  The members of the body are proposed by the political parties.

In its reaction, the ruling VMRO DPMNE party accused the opposition of foul play.

“Are politicians not allowed to report on their accomplished work? This was apparently done because the other parties and their candidates have nothing to report to the citizens. The SDSM seems scared of accountability,” VMRO DPMNE said.

On April 13, Macedonians will choose between four presidential candidates. A second round, pitting the two best-ranked...

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