VZCZCXRO6555
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #0418/01 1821537
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301537Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7480
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE 0353
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEHSQ/USDAO SKOPJE MK
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2302
RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000418 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SCE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV NATO MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: SECOND PARLIAMENTARY RE-RUNS -- MORE 
IRREGULARITIES, BUT NO VIOLENCE 
 
REF: SKOPJE 394 AND PREVIOUS 
 
SUMMARY. 
¶1.  (SBU) The June 29 second round of re-runs of the June 1 
Parliamentary elections were again marked by instances of 
serious electoral irregularities (reftel).  Although the 
security environment was improved compared to the June 1 
elections, static monitoring by international observer teams 
did not stop blatant proxy voting in a number of polling 
stations.  The results of the re-runs confirm 18 MP seats for 
DUI to DPA's 11.  DUI is claiming a "landslide victory," 
while  DPA and VMRO-DPMNE may try to use an appeal from minor 
party PDP in an effort to create a Badinter majority for a 
coalition that excludes DUI.   End Summary. 
 
Presence of Observers Did Not Stop Blatant Proxy Voting 
--------------------------------------------- ---------- 
¶2. (SBU) The June 29 second round of re-runs of June 1 
Parliamentary elections, like the first round of re-runs on 
June 15, showed a greatly improved security environment.  The 
administration of the voting was marked, however, by serious 
irregularities and intimidation in a number of polling 
stations.   As with the June 15 re-runs, the security 
presence was considerable, with sizable police special forces 
teams patrolling in and around polling stations. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Election observers from the Embassy and from the 
local NATO, EU, and OSCE missions monitored all 15 of the 
re-vote polling stations where June 15 balloting was 
invalidated because of fraud, intimidation and/or polling 
station closures.  Static monitoring did not stop blatant 
proxy voting in many polling stations. In one case, a young 
man transported groups of voters to the polling station and 
clearly marked their ballots for them.  In another case, a 
young male, clearly under the age of 18, changed his shirt 
each time between his many visits to the polling station to 
vote with someone else's identification card.  The Electoral 
Board responded to an observer's question about the youth by 
quipping that "he was voting on behalf of the sick and the 
elderly."  At one polling station, police arrested a man 
after he destroyed a number of ballots, angry that the strong 
observer presence hindered his ability to stuff ballots.  The 
polling station was closed for several hours, but later 
re-opened. 
 
¶4. (SBU)  The bulk oQthe polling stations saw some 
procedural irregularities, including Electoral Boards not 
checking voters' identification, or not checking for or 
spraying ink on voters' thumbs.  One international observer 
also reported being shoved by a DPA supporter, and several 
monitors noted that voters had begun directing some of their 
irritation over the re-vote process toward the international 
community. 
 
 
More Re-Runs? PDP May Carry DPA's (and VMRO-DPMNE's?) Water 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The State Electoral Commission (SEC) reported that 
the June 29 balloting confirms the June 15 results, with the 
Parliamentary seat distribution as follows: DUI 18, DPA 11, 
VMRO-DPMNE 63 and the opposition "Sonce" coalition 27. 
Parties have 48 hours to file appeals to the SEC.  Neither 
DUI nor DPA are likely to appeal the results. 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  DUI called the results a "landslide victory," 
while DPA said that earlier SEC and Supreme Court decisions 
had enabled DUI's "theft" of 60 thousand votes, but added 
that they were unlikely to file another round of appeals. 
 
¶7. (SBU)  Ethnic Albanian PDP (a minor party) has announced 
to the SEC its intention to appeal the results of the June 29 
balloting.   PDP leader Abduladi Vejseli said that his party 
is only 123 votes short of earning an MP seat, which would 
cost DUI one MP.  If PDP's appeal is successful and a re-vote 
earns them a seat, that seat, together with DPA's 11 seats 
and the 6 ethnic minority-held seats in the current 
VMRO-DPMNE coalition, would allow for a Badinter majority. 
That would give VMRO-DPMNE the possibility to build a 
"Badinter capable" coalition without DUI as a coalition 
partner. Note:  Monitors suspected that some VMRO-DPMNE 
 
SKOPJE 00000418  002 OF 002 
 
 
supporters received instructions to vote for PDP, in an 
effort to decrease DUI's numbers and offer VMRO-DPMNE more 
flexibility in coalition negotiations. End note. 
 
 
Milovanovic