Election Report #4: Dynamic, often unfitting campaign, but without cases of pressure and threats as in the past

Fourth day of the official election campaign for the local elections. The parties are firmly going about their agendas and not even the rain can stop them from going out on the ground and flirting with the citizens, everyone to the extent they can and know how.

Overall, a dynamic, often unfitting campaign is noted, but to a great extent also a usual election campaign. No cases of pressure, blackmail and other occurrences have been noted, which in the past were part of the pre-election atmosphere in our country. Still, CIVIL’s monitoring team has a lot of work.

ABUSE OF FIREARMS

At the opening of a party headquarters in Cair, shooting from firearms was noted on September 28, in the presence of senior party officials.

CIVIL uses this opportunity to make a strong demand to the political parties to point out to their members and supporters not to resort to abuse of weapons. CIVIL demands from the relevant institutions to strongly react and to sanction those responsible for this case.

VIOLATION OF MEASURES FOR PROTECTION AGAINST COVID-19

The low level of complying to the Covid-19 preventive measures is alarming. From the field reports, violation of the Covid-19 preventative measures is noted from VMRO-DPMNE and from DUI.

BLACK CAMP0AIGN AGAINST CIVIL SOCIETY

There is still no reaction from the relevant institutions, the media agency and self-regulatory bodies in the media about the gross insults and untruths that were expressed on TV Alfa during the guest appearance of Dragan Pavlovic – Latas in the show “What’s not clear?” on the first day of the election campaign on September 27.

Today, CIVIL’s team will submit appropriate reports, when the institutions and media agency and self-regulatory bodies don’t have the time or capacity to take into consideration these contents, as they say “by reached voice”. The Ethics Council has been notified by email, but there is still no response.

Let’s repeat, CIVIL’s monitoring notes systematic and an orchestrated black campaign against civil society, which is intensifying precisely in periods when important processes and events are taking place in the country.

DISCRIMINATION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

In the interview with the President of the Commission for Prevention Against Discrimination, Vesna Bandevska, published on CIVIL MEDIA today (September 30), the public learns about the case of discrimination.

Namely, according to Bendevska, the Anti-discrimination commission received a complaint by a person with disabilities, in a wheelchair, with physical disabilities, in which it is pointed to the regional office of the SEC in Karpos, where citizens could give their support to independent candidacies, is absolutely inaccessible for people with disabilities.

POLITICAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN

In the past six weeks, CIVIL’s monitoring processed six cases of political abuse of children by political parties, that is, candidates. The Democratic Union for Integration is leading, which is present in three cases, and one case of abuse is noted by VMRO-DPMNE, SDSM and the Alliance for Albanians. More on this in a special article that is being currently prepared by CIVIL’s Monitoring Team.

• Ahmeti and Bejta with abuse of children in an election campaign
• VMRO-DPMNE candidate for Mayor of Kisela Voda with abuse of children in an election campaign
• Abuse of children and state resources in a (pre)election campaign
• Merko too with abuse of children for a political campaign

DEADLINE TO APPLY TO THE CALL FOR SHORT-TERM OBSERVERS EXPIRES

The deadline for applying for CIVIL’s short-term observers end at 5.00 pm. We thank all interested for the trust and interest to be part of CIVIL. Remember, regardless of the reply of our commission, there are many more ways for cooperation.

WE OBSERVE TOGETHER

Finally, we call on citizens to report irregularities, corruption, pressure and threats, disinformation, hate speech, abuse of children, discrimination or other violation of human rights and freedoms.

https://youtu.be/JROoCQ9X8PI?t=284

https://fb.watch/8lmHVfHvSK/

Translation: N. Cvetkovska