Switzerland ready to help Macedonia implement election reforms

Switzerland stands ready to help the State Election Commission (SEC) and the municipal election commission strengthen their capacities and to provide support for election-related reforms, the Swiss Ambassador to Macedonia, Sybille Suter Tejada told Prime Minister Zoran Zaev at a meeting on Monday.

PM Zaev informed Ambassador Tejada about the coming establishment of a coordination body that will cooperate with EU and US officials, Swiss representatives and other interested parties to prepare and implement election reforms, the government said in a press release.

The interlocutors discussed current political affairs, including capacity building at the State Election Commission, election reforms being part of the reform-oriented 3-6-9 Plan.

“The government is committed to election reforms that will be endorsed by all political stakeholders in the country. We are strongly committed to ensuring independence and capacity building of the SEC and to implementing all other reforms necessary for a quality electoral process. Thus, we will accept any assistance and cooperation that could improve the capacities of electoral bodies and institutions involved in carrying out election processes,” stated Zaev.