Naser Pajaziti, a journalist from North Macedonia, said that this will be the first time in the country’s history that interethnic coalitions will run in the local elections.
According to Pajaziti, political parties have trimmed down the nationalistic rhetoric and opted instead on issues pertaining more to the everyday life of citizens.
Another first is that two ethnic Albanian opposition parties, Alliance and Alternative, have joined forces with nationalist VMRO-DPMNE.
The coalition does not come long after its supporters maintained a harsh stance against ethnic Albanians, in addition to the harassment of Ziadin Sela in parliament.
“VMRO-DPMNE has understood now that it can’t win with nationalism at a time when the reality in North Macedonia is multi-ethnic”, argued the journalist.
According to Naser Pajaziti, these elections will be critical for many politicians, including for one of the opposition leaders.
The elections will also put at a test PM Zoran Zaev, who will try to win another vote of confidence, or else face snap elections.
The host of Balkan Talks, Franko Egro, said polls show VMRO-DPMNE ahead of SDSM, while Albanian opposition parties seem to be performing better than BDI, the largest ethnic Albanian political party in North Macedonia.
Naser Pajaziti noted that there is a climate change coming in the way as BDI has been in power for two decades, adding that there is also some frustration in regards to the government of Zaev.
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