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Macedonia election: Conservatives and social democrats both claim victory Macedonia election: Conservatives win fragile parliamentary majority
(about 11 hours later)
Macedonia's governing conservatives and the opposition social democrats have both claimed victory in the country's parliamentary elections. Macedonia's governing conservatives have won the country's closely-fought parliamentary elections, officials say.
With nearly all the votes counted, the governing VMRO-DPMNE party has 1.37% more votes than the social democrats (SDSM). The governing VMRO-DPMNE party secured 51 out of 120 seats in parliament in Sunday's election, according to preliminary results.
But the SDSM says the results mean it will gain a greater number of MPs. The opposition social democrats (SDSM) took 49 seats, the state election commission said on Monday.
The electoral commission is expected to announce a final distribution of parliamentary seats later on Monday. The result was expected to be close, with both parties earlier claiming victory.
With just two more seats than the SDSM, the result provides the VMRO-DPMNE party with a very fragile parliamentary majority.
Of the 123 seats in Macedonia's assembly, 120 are elected from six 20-seat constituencies in Macedonia through proportional representation. The remaining three are single-member constituencies representing Macedonians living abroad - these are elected by a first-past-the-post system.Of the 123 seats in Macedonia's assembly, 120 are elected from six 20-seat constituencies in Macedonia through proportional representation. The remaining three are single-member constituencies representing Macedonians living abroad - these are elected by a first-past-the-post system.
Either main party would need to form a coalition with smaller parties to create a governing coalition. A coalition with smaller parties will need to be formed to create a governing coalition.
Supporters of both parties have taken to the streets claiming victory. The polls passed without incident, but the political uncertainty in Macedonia was highlighted when rival parties earlier declared victory.
Supporters of both parties took to the streets in celebration prior to Monday's announcement of the final distribution of parliamentary seats.
Vlatko Gjorcev, a senior official in Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's party, told supporters at the group's headquarters: "We won once again. Tonight, today on December 11, the 10th victory in a row."Vlatko Gjorcev, a senior official in Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's party, told supporters at the group's headquarters: "We won once again. Tonight, today on December 11, the 10th victory in a row."
Meanwhile SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, quoted by AFP news agency, told a cheering crowd. "We are the winners!"Meanwhile SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, quoted by AFP news agency, told a cheering crowd. "We are the winners!"
Monday's papers from both sides predicted a win. "Tightest difference ever," read the pro-government Dnevnik newspaper headline, adding: "VMRO-DPMNE's 10th victory." The result was expected to be close, with Monday's papers from both sides predicting a win.
"Tightest difference ever," read the pro-government Dnevnik newspaper headline, adding: "VMRO-DPMNE's 10th victory."
But a headline from the pro-opposition Sloboden Pecat read: "The government in Skopje has fallen."But a headline from the pro-opposition Sloboden Pecat read: "The government in Skopje has fallen."
There were no exit polls for Sunday's election, which was called two years early as part of a Western-brokered agreement to end a paralysing political crisis.There were no exit polls for Sunday's election, which was called two years early as part of a Western-brokered agreement to end a paralysing political crisis.