CIVIL conducts comprehensive long-term monitoring of Presidential and Parliamentary elections in the Republic of North Macedonia, with a special focus on monitoring disinformation, hate speech, foreign malign influence, political funding, media coverage, and adherence to legal standards throughout the electoral process.
CIVIL will monitor the upcoming Presidential Elections on April 24 with 51 accredited observers. All CIVIL observers are mobile, visiting numerous polling stations within their designated regions to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Today, the organization hosted a press conference to present key findings, provide details on its monitoring operation, and issue several recommendations and appeals based on their observations.
Ensuring Compliance with Electoral Silence: CIVIL’s Monitoring and Oversight
The election campaign for the presidential elections concluded today, April 22, at midnight, marking the beginning of electoral silence, which will end on Wednesday, April 24, at 7 p.m. with the closure of all polling stations.
Despite the electoral silence, questions remain regarding the continuation of the campaign for parliamentary elections in accordance with the state Media Agency (AAVMU) Guidelines. These guidelines permit participants in the parliamentary elections to engage in direct access to voters, including free political representation and paid political advertising, but information about their activities cannot be shared until April 24 at 7 p.m.
CIVIL will closely monitor the enforcement of electoral silence and promptly inform the public about any potential violations of the Electoral Code related to the obligation to refrain from campaign activities.
Differentiating between the campaigns may prove challenging due to the historical ability of political entities to circumvent the requirements of electoral silence. Nevertheless, CIVIL remains optimistic for a more positive outcome this year.
Addressing Hate Speech and Disinformation in Electoral Campaigns
CIVIL observes that the political campaign within the electoral context began as early as mid-2023. One of the prominent features of this campaign period has been the prevalence of disinformation, hate speech, and anti-Western narratives used by some political entities as primary propaganda tools to gain an advantage over their rivals.
CIVIL’s daily monitoring records at least one hundred instances of hate speech on social networks directed towards presidential candidates and their supporters. Additionally, numerous cases of hate speech based on ethnicity are documented, often including expressions that constitute criminal offenses related to spreading ethnic, religious, and racial hatred.
In the media and political speeches, there is a tone of severe discrediting, often coupled with nationalist messages and narratives. Nationalist sentiments are not always explicitly stated but are implied through ostensibly political accusations aimed at individuals or political parties, with underlying nationalist contexts. For instance, the commitment to “Macedonian Macedonia” is one such example.
Troll Factories in the Election Process: Addressing Pressure on Journalists, Civil Society, and Public Figures
CIVIL’s Monitoring Team has uncovered the presence of multiple troll factories actively engaging on social networks, using similar styles across different profiles simultaneously. These Internet trolls frequently employ keywords like “traitors,” “mercenaries,” and “servants of the West,” often without reading the content or viewing shared video messages.
On CIVIL’s own social media platforms, a minimum of 25 comments per day contain hate speech and direct threats towards individuals within the organization. Despite reporting these threats to the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ cybercrime department, there has been no visible response.
Beyond targeting political entities, CIVIL has documented instances of hate speech and threats aimed at intellectuals, journalists, and activists. Recently, a journalist who covered an international topic unrelated to our country received a direct threat.
The ongoing pressure on journalists, civil society organizations, and public intellectuals must cease. CIVIL calls upon responsible institutions to take decisive legal action to combat this toxic discourse, which poses a significant threat to democratic processes and endangers individuals striving to uphold democratic standards, particularly during election periods.
Countering Foreign Malign Influence: CIVIL’s Findings on Russian Propaganda Narratives
CIVIL’s monitoring team has identified and documented propaganda narratives originating from foreign sources, primarily linked to Russian influence. These narratives are disseminated through various proxy centers and channels, significantly impacting domestic media coverage and political discourse. Notably, a large part of the Macedonian media uncritically conveys these narratives, which can have a serious impact on the electoral process.
The organization has been monitoring these tendencies for a number of years and has already published numerous reports and analyses on this topic.
Certain political entities, both overtly and covertly, promote these narratives, while certain civil society organizations are also complicit in perpetuating this campaign. Notably, there is a troubling trend of denial regarding the existence of Russian propaganda within the country.
Today, we want to remind the public about the ongoing challenge of foreign malign influence, particularly through Russian propaganda narratives in our media. This uncritical dissemination can distort public discourse and impact our electoral processes. CIVIL’s monitoring efforts have identified these propaganda narratives over the years, and we continue to publish reports and analyses on this critical issue.
We are committed to countering these foreign influences to uphold the integrity of our democratic processes and combat misinformation. Through various initiatives like ‘You Decide. Vote!’ and ongoing monitoring, we aim to empower citizens and protect our democratic values. Together, we can safeguard our electoral integrity and ensure informed decision-making.
Observation Methodology: Categories of Electoral Irregularities
CIVIL’s Short-Term Observers are trained to meticulously document potential irregularities on voting day, covering a wide range of categories to ensure comprehensive monitoring. These categories include:
- Violence, threats, coercion, and hate speech
- Corruption and vote-buying
- Spread of fake news and media manipulation
- Abuse of official positions and misuse of public resources
- Improper use of police resources
- Exploitation of children and minors in political campaigns
By reporting on these categories, CIVIL aims to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and uphold democratic principles.
Empowering Voters: CIVIL’s ‘You Decide. Vote!’ Initiative
“You Decide. Vote!” is CIVIL’s initiative to promote the right to vote and citizen participation in democratic processes. Through this initiative, CIVIL emphasizes citizens’ fundamental and inalienable right to vote freely and independently. Hundreds of thousands of people across the country have seen messages from intellectuals, artists, and public figures.
Simultaneously, CIVIL has launched the website vote.civil.org.mk, which provides essential information to guide citizens through the election process. The website features a new tool called the “Vote Plan” designed to assist voters in preparing for this crucial democratic process.
Engaging Citizens: CIVIL’s Commitment to Public Collaboration and Reporting
CIVIL expresses gratitude to all citizens for their immense trust and support during this period. The intense and regular cooperation and feedback received, including valuable information from the field, are particularly significant given the limited number of observers involved in monitoring.
To facilitate communication and the reporting of potential electoral irregularities, CIVIL will make available an online form today on the website slobodniizbori.info / zgjedhjetelira.info.
CIVIL’s Press Operations on Election Day: Ensuring Transparency and Public Engagement
On voting day, April 24, the CIVIL Press Center will commence operations at 6:30 a.m. and remain open for at least 18 hours. Four press conferences are scheduled along with several live emergency broadcasts. The media will have access throughout the day and for several hours after the polls close.
Citizens are encouraged to report any instances of intimidation, misinformation, manipulation, or attempts to hinder their fundamental human right to vote.
CIVIL upholds a ZERO TOLERANCE policy towards electoral irregularities. Elections are for citizens, not political parties or candidates. We all serve the public interest together, not the centers of power.
We wish everyone peaceful, democratic, free, and fair elections.
