Democratic Union for Integration

Democratic Union for Integration
Демократска унија за интеграција
Bashkimi Demokratik për Integrim
PresidentAli Ahmeti
FoundedJune 2002 (2002-06)
HeadquartersSkopje
IdeologyAlbanian minority interests[1]
Pro-Europeanism[2]
Political positionCentre-left[3]
National affiliationEuropean Front
European affiliationSocialists, Democrats and Greens Group
Colors  Blue
  Yellow
Parliament
10 / 120
Mayors
11 / 81
Local councils[a]
172 / 1,333
Website
www.bdi.mk

The Democratic Union for Integration (Macedonian: Демократска унија за интеграција, romanized: Demokratska unija za integracija, Albanian: Bashkimi Demokratik për Integrim) is the largest ethnic Albanian political party in North Macedonia and the third largest political party in the country. It was formed immediately after the country's 2001 armed conflict between the National Liberation Army and Macedonian security forces. NLA founder Ali Ahmeti has been the party's president ever since.

History

The party was founded on 5 June 2002 by former NLA leader Ali Ahmeti, who has been the party's president ever since.[4][5][6] In the 2002 parliamentary election, the party won 12.1% of the popular vote (roughly 70% of the Albanian vote)[7] and 16 of 120 seats,[8] compared to 7 seats by Democratic Party of Albanians and 2 seats by Party for Democratic Prosperity.[9]

From 2002 to 2006, it was part of the ruling "Together for Macedonia" coalition along with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Liberal Democratic Party.[9] In the 2006 parliamentary election, the party formed a coalition with the Party for Democratic Prosperity and the Democratic League of Bosniaks. This coalition received 12.2% of the vote and 16 seats. Although DUI won the most seats among ethnic Albanian parties (13), since their governmental partners lost the election, it was not invited by the newly elected Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to participate in the government. Its place was taken by the second-largest ethnic Albanian political party, the Democratic Party of the Albanians. However, after the 2008 early parliamentary election, the party returned to the government in a coalition with Gruevski's VMRO-DPMNE.[10]

In the 2011 parliamentary election, DUI received 10.2% of the total vote, winning 15 seats, a loss of 3 seats from the previous election.[11] DUI had the best election result in the 2014 parliamentary election when it received 153,646 votes (14.2%), winning 19 seats, and had the worst result in the next election in 2016, receiving 86,796 votes (7.5%). In 2016, DUI entered the government in a coalition with SDSM.[12]

In the campaign for the 2020 parliamentary election, DUI made its participation in any coalition contingent on the nominee for Prime Minister being an ethnic Albanian, which both SDSM and VMRO-DPMNE have refused. On 18 August, SDSM and DUI reached a deal on a coalition government as well as a compromise on the issue of an ethnic Albanian Prime Minister.[13][14]

On World Environment Day in 2021, Ahmeti announced the party will focus more on environmental issues, citing Greta Thunberg's activism as inspiring the party's new direction.[15]

In 28 January Talat Xhaferi of Democratic Union for Integration has been elected as prime minister of the technical government of North Macedonia which, in accordance with the Pržino Agreement, will lead the country in the 100 days prior to the parliamentary elections scheduled for 8 May.[16]

Election results

Presidential elections

Election Party candidate Votes % Votes % Result
First round Second round
2024 Bujar Osmani 120,811 13.71% — — Lost Red XN

Assembly elections

Year Votes Vote % Seats Seat change Place Status
2002 144,913 12.1
16 / 120
 Increase 16 Increase 3rd Government
2006 114,301 12.2
13 / 120
 Decrease 3 Steady 3rd Opposition
2008 126,522 12.8
18 / 120
 Increase 5 Steady 3rd Government
2011 115,092 10.2
15 / 123
 Decrease 3 Steady 3rd Government
2014 153,646 14.2
19 / 123
 Increase 4 Steady 3rd Government
2016 86,796 7.5
10 / 120
 Decrease 9 Steady 3rd Government
2020 104,699 11.5
15 / 120
 Increase 5 Steady 3rd Government
2024 137,690 14.1
10 / 120
 Decrease 5 Steady 3rd Opposition

Notes

  1. ^ Also with coalitions.

References

  1. ^ Nordsieck, Wolfram (2020). "North Macedonia". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  2. ^ "North Macedonia". Europe Elects. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  3. ^ Pankovski, Marco; Jovevska–Gjorgjevikj, Aleksandra; Janeska, Sara; Ilievska, Martina; Mladenovska, Simona (2020). The Republic of North Macedonia's 2020 Parliamentary Elections Handbook (PDF) (Report). Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" Skopje. p. 73. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  4. ^ Jenny Engström (2009). Democratisation and the Prevention of Violent Conflict: Lessons Learned from Bulgaria and Macedonia. Ashgate. p. 115. ISBN 9780754674344.
  5. ^ Vera Stojarová; Peter Emerson, eds. (2013). Party Politics in the Western Balkans. Routledge. p. 177. ISBN 9781135235857.
  6. ^ Robert Bideleux; Ian Jeffries (2007). The Balkans: A Post-Communist History. Routledge. p. 449. ISBN 9781134583287.
  7. ^ Dimitar Bechev (2019). Historical Dictionary of North Macedonia (2nd ed.). Rowman & Littlefield. p. 91. ISBN 9781538119624.
  8. ^ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1278 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  9. ^ a b Zoltan D. Barany; Robert G. Moser, eds. (2005). Ethnic politics after communism. Cornell University Press. p. 93. ISBN 9780801443770.
  10. ^ Gianluca Passarelli (2018). The Presidentialisation of Political Parties in the Western Balkans. Springer. p. 102. ISBN 9783319973524.
  11. ^ "Conservative Leader Claims 3rd Term in Macedonia". NPR. 6 June 2011. Retrieved 6 June 2011.[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ Vasiliki P. Neofotistos, ed. (2021). Macedonia and Identity Politics After the Prespa Agreement. Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 9780367407292.
  13. ^ "N. Macedonia: Pro-Western party secures coalition deal". AP News. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  14. ^ Marusic, Sinisa Jakov (18 August 2020). "Zoran Zaev to Lead North Macedonia's Government Again". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  15. ^ "Largest Ethnic Albanian Party in North Macedonia Goes Green". Exit News. 7 June 2021. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Талат Џафери: Имаме обврска да обезбедиме фер избори – DW – 25.01.2024". dw.com (in Macedonian). Retrieved 25 January 2024.