2004 Macedonian autonomy referendum
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Are you in favor of the territorial organization of local self-government (municipalities and the city of Skopje) determined by the Law on the Territorial Division of the Republic of Macedonia and Determination of the Areas of Local Self-Government Units ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" no. 49/96) and the Law on the city of Skopje ("Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia no. 49/96)? | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Outcome | Proposal failed as voter turnout was below 50% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Results | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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North Macedonia portal |
An autonomy referendum was held in
Although 95% voted in favour of the change, the voter turnout of 27% was well below the 50% threshold,[2][3] resulting in it failing.
Background
The referendum was initiated by the World Macedonian Congress, led by Todor Petrov, whose "group of Voters" party won 0.25% of the vote in the 1998 parliamentary election.[4] It was backed by conservative parties, notably VMRO-DPMNE, and non-Albanian ethnic minority parties.[5] Backers were opposed to the Ohrid Accord and said the law was divisive and would lead to the breakup of the Republic of Macedonia.
The then
The
Prior to the vote, a Macedonian newspaper carried a story suggesting that if the referendum succeeded, Albanian militants had planned to blow up a pipeline carrying water to the capital Skopje.[6]
Question
Are you for the territorial organization of the local self-government (the municipalities and City of Skopje) as determined by the Law on Territorial Division of the Republic of Macedonia and Determination of the Areas of the Local Self-Government Units (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia no. 49/1996) and the Law on the City of Skopje (Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia no. 49/1996).[2]
Results
Choice | Votes | % | |
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For | 427,112 | 95.06 | |
Against | 22,212 | 4.94 | |
Total | 449,324 | 100.00 | |
Valid votes | 449,324 | 98.89 | |
Invalid/blank votes | 5,023 | 1.11 | |
Total votes | 454,347 | 100.00 | |
Registered voters/turnout | 1,709,536 | 26.58 | |
Source: IFES |
References
- ^ a b c Macedonia Votes on Local Autonomy for Ethnic Albanian Minority, Voice of America via Global Security, 2004-07-11, accessed on 2007-03-18
- ^ a b c Election Profile IFES
- ^ Results IFES
- ^ a b The Referendum: Macedonia's Failed, Fatal Opportunity Archived 2008-03-11 at the Wayback Machine, Anti War.com, 2004-11-13, accessed on 2007-03-18
- ^ Nine Misconceptions about the Macedonian Referendum, Balkan Analysis.com, 2004-05-11, accessed on 2008-03-18, archived version.
- ^ What Fear Motivated the West's Anti-Referendum Hysteria?, Balkan Analysis, 2004-11-09, accessed on 2007-03-18, archived version