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Macedonian name change referendum hit by low turnout Macedonian name change referendum hit by low turnout
(about 3 hours later)
The future of Macedonia hung in the balance on Sunday as citizens voted in fewer than expected numbers in a referendum to rename their country seen as decisive for the western orientation of the strategic Balkan state. Macedonia was facing a prolonged political crisis on Sunday following an unexpectedly low turnout by voters in a historic referendum to rename the strategic Balkan state.
Macedonian polling stations opened under sunny skies on Sunday for a plebiscite on if the former Yugoslav republic adopts the name North Macedonia and is put on a path to EU and Nato membership. Voters were asked whether they endorsed a landmark deal struck with Greece, rechristening the state North Macedonia as a stepping stone to European Union and Nato membership.
Turnout is paramount and, voting early on Sunday, the prime minister, Zoran Zaev, urged people to ignore appeals for a nationwide boycott and participate in a ballot called barely three months after Skopje reached a controversial name change agreement with Greece. But 30 minutes before polling stations closed it appeared that calls to boycott the vote had had an effect, with only 34.7%, or 623,000 people, casting a ballot.
“I call on everyone to come out and make this serious decision for the future of our country, for future generations,” he said, casting his ballot in the south-eastern town of Strumica, where he previously served as mayor. Prime minister Zoran Zaev said he would recognise the democratic decision of those who had voted. “Regardless of the organised boycott, I expect that the vast majority of citizens who voted have chosen the European path of Macedonia,” Zaev said.
But by 6.30pm, only 30 minutes before polls closed, it had become clear that much fewer than expected had heeded his appeal. As the state electoral commission announced that just 34.7% had voted jubilant protesters gathered in front of the parliament. “No better agreement with Greece has been made or could be made and there is no other alternative than our country joining the EU,” Zaev said in a raucous news conference.
“This is a bad day for Zaev and a wonderful day for Macedonians,” said Martin Dukovski, standing outside the parliament building holding a large red and yellow Macedonian flag. “I am a proud Macedonian. The government has to take back this deal. It has to say ‘no’ to Greece.” “More than 90% of those who went out to vote voted for that,” he said, rejecting the notion that the referendum had been unsuccessful because the outcome fell short of the threshold.
No vote has been as historic – or imbued with such sentiment – since the country declared independence in 1991. The referendum comes against a backdrop of polarisation, potentially explosive emotion and Russia reportedly stepping up clandestine efforts to dash Macedonia’s embrace by the west. Working in unison with hardcore nationalists bent on boycotting the vote, Moscow has openly voiced distaste for the deal with Greece. The Greek prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, had been in touch and saluted the result, Zaev said.
Until the accord’s announcement in June, Athens had vowed to block its neighbour’s accession to both the EU and Nato, protesting that – without a geographical qualifier – the name amounted to appropriation of its own cultural heritage and territorial ambitions. The social democrat leader has staked his political future on placing the country in the western sphere. “Now the will of the people … must be transposed into political activity in the parliament,” he told reporters, insisting that if the deal wasn’t ratified by MPs he would resort to “that other democratic tool” and call early parliamentary elections.
Within the borders of the landlocked republic, few issues have been as divisive. Many Macedonians argue that, with their country’s name also conveying a profound sense of identity, being asked to change it is tantamount to existential annihilation. Protesters gathered in front of Skopje’s communist-era parliament, where a podium had been erected draped in a banner declaring “the people boycotted a genocide. Never North, always Macedonia.”
“My first name is Makedonska,” said a hotel employee as she made her way to a polling station in a local school in central Skopje. “What are they [the Greeks] going to to do? Ask me to change that?” “This is a bad day for Zaev and a wonderful day for Macedonians,” said Martin Dukovski, standing outside the building holding a large red and yellow Macedonian flag. “I am a proud Macedonian. The government has to take back this deal. It has to say ‘no’ to Greece.”
Addressing the UN last week, the republic’s president, Gjorge Ivanov, described the referendum and the dilemma it posed as “historical suicide”. The former university professor has openly asked his fellow citizens to boycott the vote. No poll has been as historic – or imbued with such sentiment – since the nation declared independence in 1991. The referendum was held against a backdrop of polarisation, potentially explosive emotion and Russia reportedly stepping up clandestine efforts to dash Macedonia’s embrace by the west. Working in unison with hardcore nationalists bent on boycotting the vote, Moscow has openly voiced distaste for the deal with Greece.
Although Zaev’s social democrat government has described the plebiscite as “consultative”, a low turnout would make it almost impossible to push the name-change deal through parliament, where it must receive overwhelming support if constitutional changes are to be ratified. Until the accord’s announcement in June, Athens had vowed to block its neighbour’s accession to both the EU and Nato protesting that – without a geographical qualifier – the name amounted to appropriation of its own cultural heritage and territorial ambitions. Eager to end the row, the result was met with disappointment by officials in Athens.
The nationalist main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, which has denounced the deal and is vehemently opposed to rewording the republic’s constitution, would find it much easier to resist ratification if fewer voters than expected backed the accord. The party’s leader, Hristijan Mickoski, appealed to Macedonians to “listen to their hearts” when they woke up on Sunday. Within the borders of landlocked Macedonia few issues have been as divisive. Many argue that with their country’s name also conveying a profound sense of identity, being asked to change it is tantamount to existential annihilation.
The prospect of securing a majority turnout has been further hampered by an electoral list dramatically trimmed by young people emigrating in search of work. Of the 1.8 million currently on the voting list, an estimated 600,000 have moved abroad but according to officials have failed to deregister. “My first name is Makedonska,” said a raven-haired hotel employee as she made her way to a polling station in a local school in central Skopje. “What are they [the Greeks] going to to do? Ask me to change that?”
In such circumstances, the outcome to great degree will hinge on the participation of Macedonia’s large ethnic Albanian community, which is – at about 25% – its biggest minority. Addressing the UN last week, the republic’s president, Gjorge Ivanov, described the referendum and the dilemma it posed as “historical suicide”. The former university professor had openly asked his fellow citizens to boycott the vote.
“We don’t have the emotional baggage of Slav Macedonians over the name issue,” said Petrit Sanagini, an ethnic Albanian, as he went to vote with his wife and baby daughter. “This is a compromise we feel we have to make to move our country forward towards a future of prosperity and security. It’s a historic day, a very special day. Our hope is that everyone will vote.” Although Zaev’s government had described the plebiscite as “consultative”, it had been accepted that a low turnout would make it almost impossible to push the name-change deal through the 120-seat parliament where support from at least 80 MPs is required if constitutional changes are to be ratified.
More than 500 foreign observers are monitoring the plebiscite. In addition to EU and western officials, the referendum is being watched closely in neighbouring Kosovo, where fierce opposition to the prospect of territorial adjustments with Serbia spurred thousands to take to the streets on Saturday. To the consternation of the multi-ethnic territory’s Albanian majority, Moscow has backed the idea of land swaps. The nationalist main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, which has denounced the deal – and is vehemently opposed to rewording the republic’s constitution – will now find it that much easier to resist ratification.
“The fact is that the name agreement did not get a green light, but a stop sign from the people,” said the party’s leader, Hristijan Mickoski. Earlier he had appealed to Macedonians to “listen to their hearts” when they woke up on Sunday.
The prospect of securing a majority turnout had been hampered by an electoral list dramatically trimmed by young people emigrating in search of work. Of the 1.8 million on the list, an estimated 600,000 are believed to have moved abroad.
Hopes had been pinned on a “yes” vote being clinched with the help of Macedonia’s large ethnic Albanian community which, at around 25%, is its biggest minority.
“We don’t have the emotional baggage of Slav Macedonians over the name issue,” said Petrit Sanagini, an ethnic Albanian, as he went to cast his ballot with his wife and baby daughter. “This is a compromise we feel we have to make to move our country forward towards a future of prosperity and security. It’s a historic day, a very special day. Our hope is that everyone will vote.”
More than 500 foreign observers monitored the plebiscite. In addition to EU and western officials the referendum had been watched closely in neighbouring Kosovo, where fierce opposition to the prospect of territorial adjustments with Serbia spurred thousands to take to the streets on Saturday. To the consternation of the multi-ethnic territory’s Albanian majority, Moscow has backed the idea of land swaps.
“We very much want Macedonians to accept this deal and join Nato,” said Albin Kurti, the opposition politician whose self-determination movement, Vetëvendosje, organised the protests. “It will deter Russian ambitions and interference in the region,” he told the Guardian in his Pristina office. “And that could not come at a better time.”“We very much want Macedonians to accept this deal and join Nato,” said Albin Kurti, the opposition politician whose self-determination movement, Vetëvendosje, organised the protests. “It will deter Russian ambitions and interference in the region,” he told the Guardian in his Pristina office. “And that could not come at a better time.”
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