The Last Macedonian Elections of April 2014: On the Road to Nowhere
The Last Macedonian Elections of April 2014: On the Road to Nowhere

Summary/Abstract: The Republic of Macedonia is a perfect example of an undemocratic country ruled by a populist government. The governing coalition in power, led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and a close circle of his family and friends, hijacked democracy several years ago, establishing a firm grip not only on the state, its institutions and resources, but on the entire society, including the media, business community, judiciary, academia, professional organizations, trade unions, sport clubs and almost all other public institutions and organizations of any socio-political relevance. Using three main methods as a governing practice and ideology – widespread state-sponsored clientelism; “antiquisation” of the Macedonian ethnic identity; and an “upgraded” nationalistic relation toward ethnic Albanians in the country – Gruevski and his party VMRO-DPMNE have won the last eight elections on the national and local level. The current autocratic and backward oriented regime in Skopje is a “dream come true” for the Greek anti-Macedonian official foreign policy and a key deteriorating factor for the EU’s disinterest in the Macedonian Euro-Atlantic future. But for how long can this virtual reality of Disneyland proportions be financed with the millions of euro, the real money borrowed weekly from whoever wants to give a loan to the Macedonian government? Which process is going to prevail earlier: the financial bankruptcy of the state or the “de-frosting” of interethnic relations in the country? Or is it going to be a combination of both in a not too distant future?

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