US State Department Officials have praised Macedonia's first round of presidential elections after a high voter turn out (despite snow fall) and election standards that meet European standards. Successful elections are a crucial part of the EU's programme of integrating former Communist countries (under Yugoslavia) into Western Europe and ensuring long term stability in the Balkans, a region divided by religion, race and culture.
Will an election that leads to the successful transfer of power by the Executive to a challenger help secure the stability US and European officials hope to achieve?
As has been stated often before, more is required than elections. What is also necessary to modern democracy is the rule of law, political rights and civil liberties, and the other aspects that come with constitutional liberalism (and which we take for granted).
ReplyDelete