GOVERNMENT
The unicameral
assembly (Sobranie) consists of 120 seats. Members are elected
by popular vote from party lists, based on the percentage parties
gain of the overall vote in each of six election districts of
20 seats each. Members of parliament have a 4-year mandate.
The prime
minister is the head of government and is selected by the party
or coalition that gains a majority of seats in parliament. The
prime minister and other ministers must not be members of parliament.
The president
represents Macedonia at home and abroad. He is the commander in
chief of the armed forces of Macedonia and heads its Security
Council. The president is elected by general, direct ballot and
has a term of 5 years, with the right to one re-election.
General parliamentary elections were last held on July 5, 2006. Presidential elections were held April 14 and 28, 2004 to succeed President Trajkovski, who died in office in February 2004. Local elections on the basis of a new municipal division mandated by the Framework Agreement were held in March-April 2005. Early parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 1, 2008.
The court system consists of a Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and local and appeals courts. The State Judicial Council governs the ethical conduct of judges and recommends to parliament the election of judges. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country and is responsible for the equal administration of laws by all courts. Its judges are appointed by parliament without time limit. The Constitutional Court is responsible for the protection of constitutional and legal rights and for resolving conflicts of power between the three branches of government. Its 9 judges are appointed by parliament with a mandate of 9 years, without the possibility of re-election. An independent Public Prosecutor is appointed by parliament with a 6-year mandate.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Branko Crvenkovski
Prime Minister--Nikola Gruevski
Deputy Prime Minister (EU Integration)--Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska
Deputy Prime Minister (Economic Affairs)--Zoran Stavreski
Deputy Prime Minister (Framework Agreement Implementation)--Imer Aliu
Deputy Prime Minister (Agriculture and Education)--Zivko Jankulovski
Foreign Minister--Antonio Milososki
Defense Minister--Lazar Elenovski
Economy Minister--Vera Rafajlovska
Finance Minister--Trajko Slaveski
Interior Minister--Gordana Jankulovska
Justice Minister--Mihajlo Manevski
Appointed Ambassador to the United States--Zoran Jolevski
Ambassador to the United Nations--Igor Dzundev
The
country maintains an embassy in the United States at 1101 30 Street,
NW, Suite 302, Washington, DC 20007 (tel: (202) 337-3063; fax:
(202) 337-3093).
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Constitution: Adopted November 17, 1991; effective November 20, 1991. Amended January 6, 1992.
Independence: September 8, 1991 (from Yugoslavia).
Branches: Executive--prime minister (head of government), council of ministers (cabinet), president (head of state). Legislative--unicameral parliament or Sobranie (120 members elected by popular vote to 4-year terms from party lists based on the percentage parties gain of the overall vote in each of six election units, with 20 seat per unit). Judicial--Supreme Court, State Judicial Council, Constitutional Court, Public Prosecutor's Office, Public Attorney. Legal system is based on civil law; judicial review of legislative acts.
Subdivisions: 84 opstini (municipalities) plus the city of Skopje.
Suffrage: Universal at age 18.
Main political parties: Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE); Social-Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM); Democratic Union for Integration (DUI); Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA); New Social Democratic Party (NSDP); Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-People's Party (VMRO-NP); Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP); Albanian Democratic Union (DUA); Democratic Renewal of Macedonia (DOM); National Democratic Party (NDP); Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP); Socialist Party of Macedonia (SPM); Liberal Party (LP); Democratic Alternative (DA); Democratic Union (DU); Democratic Party of the Turks in Macedonia (DPTM); Democratic League of Bosniaks; Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia, United Party of Romas in Macedonia; Democratic Union of Vlachs from Macedonia; Labor-Agricultural Party of Macedonia, Socialist-Christian Party of Macedonia.
