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Macedonian main opposition party says to boycott June 5 elections

Xinhua, April 7, 2016 Adjust font size:

The main opposition party in Macedonia SDSM will not participate in upcoming elections scheduled for June 5, its leader Zoran Zaev announced, saying conditions guaranteeing free and fair elections were not yet met.

"We will not take part in these false elections. We will not give up on our principles. There can be no freedom without free elections," Zaev said, noting that voter lists were not checked.

In the coming days, SDSM will decide whether to withdraw its members from the State Election Commission, the highest body in charge for organizing the elections.

The Macedonian Parliament was officially dissolved on Thursday, paving the way for parliamentary elections on June 5.

The fresh elections were called after a deep political crisis initiated by opposition claims of corruption of high-ranking government officials, supported with audio records of hundreds of wiretapped phone conversations. Endit