Party for Democratic Prosperity
Encyclopedia
The Party for Democratic Prosperity or PDP is an ethnic Albanian
political party in the Republic of Macedonia
. The party was formed in April 1990 and is currently led by Abdyladi Vejseli.
From 1992 to 1998 the PDP was part of the coalition governments led by the SDSM. After the split of the radical wing from the party in February 1994, PDP was generally considered to be moderate party that could cooperate with Macedonian parties, although sometimes frictions between the PDP and the other government parties arose as a consequence of the ethnic questions. For example, the party leadership criticized the 1991 Census for allegedly underreporting the percentage of the population that was Albanian from 40% to only 21%. Also, the PDP deputies voted against adopting the constitution due to its lack of protection for minorities. The former PDP Secretary Emini explained, "The Albanians, regarding Macedonia to be their country, as well, expected and struggled to ensure through the constitution their natural and legal right to be equally constitutive people in Macedonia, i.e., in their own state."
From the 1998 elections onwards PDP is in opposition and since then the support for the PDP has eroded a lot. At the last legislative elections
, 15 September 2002, the party won 2.3% of the popular vote and 2 out of 120 seats.
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
political party in the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
. The party was formed in April 1990 and is currently led by Abdyladi Vejseli.
From 1992 to 1998 the PDP was part of the coalition governments led by the SDSM. After the split of the radical wing from the party in February 1994, PDP was generally considered to be moderate party that could cooperate with Macedonian parties, although sometimes frictions between the PDP and the other government parties arose as a consequence of the ethnic questions. For example, the party leadership criticized the 1991 Census for allegedly underreporting the percentage of the population that was Albanian from 40% to only 21%. Also, the PDP deputies voted against adopting the constitution due to its lack of protection for minorities. The former PDP Secretary Emini explained, "The Albanians, regarding Macedonia to be their country, as well, expected and struggled to ensure through the constitution their natural and legal right to be equally constitutive people in Macedonia, i.e., in their own state."
From the 1998 elections onwards PDP is in opposition and since then the support for the PDP has eroded a lot. At the last legislative elections
Elections in the Republic of Macedonia
Elections in the Republic of Macedonia gives information on election and election results in the Republic of Macedonia.The Republic of Macedonia elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a five year term by the people...
, 15 September 2002, the party won 2.3% of the popular vote and 2 out of 120 seats.