The recent parliamentary elections in North Macedonia have left the southeastern European country feeling frustrated over the stalling of European integration. While much of the blame for this stagnation falls on the poor administration of the Social Democratic government, there are also other factors at play.
Despite making significant compromises to achieve EU accession, including changing its name, North Macedonia has seen little progress in return. This has been compounded by obstacles such as the dispute with Bulgaria, which includes questions of identity and recognition of a Bulgarian minority in North Macedonia. Despite efforts towards integration, including joining NATO, trust issues and a lack of transparency remain major hurdles.
The recent election results reflect discontent with poor governance and lack of progress in addressing corruption and other issues. The Albanian coalition partner DUI has played a role in the country’s political landscape, but the united Albanian opposition has made gains in the recent elections. The election winner Hristijan Mickoski is not reliant on DUI to integrate the Albanian minority. Overall, the election results reflect both frustration with slow progress towards EU integration and discontent with governance under the Social Democrats.
In conclusion, North Macedonia’s frustrations over progress towards EU accession are compounded by various obstacles such as disputes with neighboring countries like Bulgaria and questions about identity and recognition of minorities. Despite efforts towards integration and joining NATO, trust issues and a lack of transparency remain significant hurdles for this southeastern European country. The recent election results reflect discontent with poor governance under the Social Democrats party and gains made by Albanian opposition parties like DUI.