Bekim Sali: Electoral Code still under negotiation
After a change at the Ministry of Justice there are renewed efforts, but full agreement on the Electoral Code has not yet been reached, Sali says.
Skopje, 15 September 2026 — The adoption of the Electoral Code remains unresolved and is still the subject of negotiations among political parties, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for European Affairs Bekim Sali said on 15 September while answering reporters' questions about EU integration and reforms.
“You know, that law was unanimously accepted by several political actors, let me say political parties that are part of the Assembly, however at the last moment two political parties withdrew, they did not support those amendments. After the change in the Ministry of Justice there are already efforts to adopt that law, but it is still in a phase of negotiations,” Sali said.
Sali linked the current situation to recent personnel changes at the Ministry of Justice and said authorities are trying to revive the path toward approval, but agreement has not yet been reached.
Criminal Code also on the agenda
Asked whether work is also under way on the Criminal Code, Sali replied affirmatively and stressed the new justice minister’s commitment.
“The new minister is committed to the Criminal Code as well, so I believe these are laws that require a broader consensus and support from multiple levels. The minister is working and I hope he will succeed in achieving the final goal,” Sali underlined before the start of an interregional meeting of chief negotiators and officials responsible for EU integration from the Western Balkans, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, as well as representatives of the European Commission and international partners.
The negotiations around both the Electoral Code and the Criminal Code remain politically sensitive and will likely require extended talks to secure the wider backing Sali described.
Photo: press material from the event
