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SOCIO-POLITICAL OPINION RESEARCH REPORT

CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE – NORTH MACEDONIA

TEAM INSTITUTE AND STARR OPINION RESEARCH

JUNE 2020

THIS RESEARCH REPORT WAS PREPARED BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE – NORTH MACEDONIA (NDI), TEAM INSTITUTE AND STARR OPINION RESEARCH. THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS REPORT DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE VIEWS OF NDI.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

3

The public mood has turned pessimistic.

A sizable segment of voters shifted their outlook for North Macedonia from neutral to pessimistic. In March, 30% said

the country was headed in the right direction, 35% were neutral and 33% said North Macedonia was headed in the

wrong direction. In June, 29% indicated right direction, 26% were neutral (loss of nine percentage points) and 44%

wrong direction (increase in 11 percentage points).

Economic concerns are top-of-mind.

After three months of withstanding the pandemic, citizens’ primary concerns are now focused on the economy and, to a

lesser degree, governance (i.e. Rule of Law, Justice), at levels similar to before the pandemic. Compared to March,

more citizens’ surveyed report that people’s lives have gotten worse in the past three years. Nearly four in ten (38%)

feel lives in North Macedonia have gotten worse, a 14-point increase from March; 21% say it has gotten a lot worse, a

10-point jump from March. Among ethnic Albanians, the percentage feeling things are worse tripled, from 13% in March

to 36% in June.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

4

Little substantial political movement. The elections remain competitive.

Traditional indicators of levels of trust in institutions and favorability of political parties and politicians have generally not

changed from their previous low March levels. The parliamentary ballot tests remain competitive between the two

coalitions. This is consistent with the high levels that said in March they would not change their selection.

More than eight in ten who selected a party (82%) said they were certain with their vote, and 13% said they might

change their mind. Among the most supported parties, 83% of VMRO supporters were firm in their decision, 87% for

the SDSM BESA coalition, 85% for DUI and 82% for Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa.

Political participation remains high, but trust in the electoral process has waned.

Nearly seven in ten citizens (69%) plan to vote in the elections, despite the health concerns, with 40% saying they will

definitely vote. However, fewer than half of citizens (46%) are confident the upcoming election will be free and fair, a

drop in six points from 52% in March. Four in ten (42% ) lack confidence, with nearly one in four (23%) not confident at

all. Of those who lack confidence in the election, three in ten (29%) cited pressures, manipulations and forgery as the

reason.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

5

Disinformation remains a concern for voters.

Broad concern (57%, similar to the 54% in March) remains that disinformation can impact the election. Eighteen (18%)

are very concerned, similar to the 15% who felt this way in March.

Nine in ten citizens (90%) reported being exposed to disinformation, similar to the rate reported in March. Television

remains the leading source (68% said they were exposed to it). Since March, there has been an increase in social

media, from 45% to 53%, and web sites, from 21% to 28%.

Support for Euroatlantic integration remains strong.

Support for joining NATO remains strong with 74% supportive and 18% opposed. More than eight in ten adult citizens

of North Macedonia (84%) were aware the country joined NATO. Of the 84% aware of the news, 69% said it made

them more hopeful for the country and 13% said it made them less hopeful.

Citizens remain strongly supportive of North Macedonia joining the EU. Eight in ten citizens of North Macedonia (79%)

support joining the EU, and 57% strongly support this move. Citizens are most drawn to the future economic benefits of

joining the EU.

Contents Research MethodologyI

II

III

IV

V

Demographics of Respondents

General Outlook

Favorability of Political Parties and Leaders

VI

Institutional Trust and Job Approval

Parliamentary Elections and Party Preferences

EU and NATO AccessionVIII

Key Reforms

Media Usage and Disinformation

VII

IX

X

Good Neighborly Relations

I. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

8

RESEARCH

METHODOLOGY

QUANTITATIVE: Face to Face (F2F) Computer-Aided

Personal Interviewing (CAPI)

QUANTITATIVE: Face to Face (F2F) Computer-Aided

Personal Interviewing (CAPI)

Time Frame February 26 to March 5, 2020 June 12 to June 21, 2020

Population Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia,

aged 18 years and older

Citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia,

aged 18 years and older

Sample Design Nationally representative, multistage stratified sample of

1,212 respondents aged 18+. Households are distributed

proportionally in urban and rural areas and by ethnicity in

all eight regions of the country.

Nationally representative, multistage stratified sample of

1,213 respondents aged 18+. Households are distributed

proportionally in urban and rural areas and by ethnicity in all

eight regions of the country.

Sample Size 1,212 respondents

Estimated margin of еrror of +2.81 percentage points

at the 95% level of confidence

1,213 respondents

Estimated margin of error of +2.81 percentage points

at the 95% level of confidence

Research Team

Interviewer network of 45 interviewers and

10 regional supervisors

Interviewer network of 50 interviewers and

10 regional supervisors

Average Length of

Interview

25 minutes 18 minutes

Special Procedures All the interviewers were given a protocol with safety

measures to employ to conduct research during COVID-19.

Weighting Data is weighted according to 4 variables: gender, age,

ethnicity and statistical regions, SSO, 2013

Data is weighted according to 4 variables: gender, age,

ethnicity and statistical regions, SSO, 2013

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY – TRACKING STUDYQUANTITATIVE RESEARCH: SURVEY OF REPRESENTATIVE SAMEPLE OF 1,213 RESPONDENTS

NOTES

9

The estimated margin of sampling error for the survey is ±2.81 percentage points at the 95% confidence

interval.

• Meaning: If the same survey is conducted 100 times, we expect that in 95 of those surveys the

responses would fall somewhere within our margin of sampling error.

• The margin of error will be larger among subgroups of respondents, such as among ethnic

Macedonians and ethnic Albanians.

• In looking at voting preference between the two parties, an advantage within 5.6 percentage point is

still "within the margin of error" and therefore the party ahead may actually be behind, or tied, or may

have a greater lead.

The research provides opinions in a point in time and changes over time.

All sample surveys and polls may be subject to multiple sources of error, including, but not limited to

sampling error, coverage error, and measurement error.

Due to the rounding of numbers, the sum of the percentages may not always be 100.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAM

10

The goal of this program is to promote citizens’ input into the development of political party

electoral strategies and platforms ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections

The objective of the survey is to identify and track broader social and political trends of all

citizens of North Macedonia

POLITICAL CONTEXT

11

• 26 February: First case of COVID-19 confirmed in the Republic of North Macedonia.

• 18 March: The President of North Macedonia proclaimed a state of emergency, the first time since its independence.

• 22 March: Parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12 are officially postponed by a governmental decree.

• 25 March: The European Council decided to take the next step in opening EU accession negotiations with North

Macedonia.

• 27 March: North Macedonia joined NATO as its 30th member.

• 10 June: DUI's President Ali Ahmeti announced that they are proposing a concept for a first Albanian Prime Minister.

• 15 June: The President of the Republic of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski proclaimed a state of emergency for

eight days, i.e. until 22 June, after the political parties reached an agreement to hold elections on July 15.

Proclaimed Election Day will be a non-working day for all citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia.

• 18 June: Verdicts were reached in the "Extortion" (racket) case, with Bojan Jovanovski sentenced to 9 years in prison,

and Katica Janeva to 7 years.

• 24 June: Official start of the parliamentary election campaign.

II. DEMOGRAPHICS OF RESPONDENTS

DEMOGRAPHICS OF RESPONDENTS

13

7.6%

29.3%

8.3%

9.0%

8.5%

11.7%

10.7%

14.9%

Survey Distribution by Statistical Regions

65%

25%

10%

Macedonians

Albanians

Other

34%

36%

30%

18-34

35-54

55+

50%50%

57%Urban population

Rural population 43%

Survey Distribution by Settlement

Survey Distribution by Ethnicity

Survey Distribution by Gender

Survey Distribution by Age Groups

Skopje

Northeast

East

SoutheastVardar

Pelagonija

Southwest

Polog

III. GENERAL OUTLOOK

TREND: GENERAL OUTLOOKOverall, is the country moving in the right or wrong direction?

15

30%

35%33%

29%

26%

44%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Right direction Neutral-neither right nor wrongdirection

Wrong direction

Feb/March

June

9%- 9%

+ 11%

Base: 1213 (all respondents)Margin of Error + 2.8

16

29%

26%

44%

30%

27%

42%

27%

19%

54%

32%34%

31%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Right direction Neutral-neither right nor wrong direction Wrong direction

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

GENERAL OUTLOOKOverall, is the country moving in the right or wrong direction?

NOTE: Increase in

wrong direction

emphasized among

ethnic Albanians

(+28%)

TOP ISSUEIn your opinion, what is the MOST serious problem facing the country today?

Economic issues

Governance

issues

33%

31%


17

%

COVID 19 22%

4

5

1

1

2

9

18

22

6

27

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Health

General political situation

Interethnic relations

Integration in the EU

Human rights, democracy and freedom

Judiciary, justice

Crime and corruption

Situation with COVID 19

Standard of living

Economy and employment

NOTE: All other responses

have less than 1%

18

35%

48%

0,4%

33%31%

22%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Economic issues Governance issues COVID 19

Feb/March

June

17%

22%

NOTE: Decrease in governance

issues emphasized among

ethnic Albanians

- 17%

+ 22%

TREND: TOP ISSUEIn your opinion, what is the MOST serious problem facing the country today?

19

TREND: TOP ISSUE In your opinion, what is the MOST serious problem facing the country today?

3%

6%

1%

3%

4%

15%

24%

0,4%

8%

27%

4%

5%

1%

1%

2%

9%

18%

22%

6%

27%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Health





Judiciary, justice



Standard of living


June

Feb / March

8%

+22%

- 6%

- 6%

Economic issues

Governance

issues

33%

31%

COVID-19 22%

June

TOP TWO ISSUESIn your opinion, what are the TWO MOST serious problems facing the country today?

Economic issues

Governance

issues

66%

59%


20

%

COVID-19 39%

1

0

2

1

1

1

3

3

11

13

39

1

3

5

19

31

15

51

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Do not know

Refuse to answer

Other

All of the above

Infrastructure

Pollution, environment

Education

Security, stability

Health






Judiciary, justice


Standard of living


TREND: CURRENT SITUATION, AS COMPARED TO 2017Thinking about the past three years, do you think people’s lives in our country have…?

21

11%

13%

42%

26%

6%

21%

17%

31%

24%

5%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Gotten a lot worse

Gotten a little worse

Not changed

Improved a little

Improved a lot June

Feb / March

- 11%

+ 10%

42%

24%

29%

31%

38%

Feb/ March June

32%

Not

changed

Worsened

Improved

CURRENT SITUATION, AS COMPARED TO 2017Thinking about the past three years, do you think people’s lives in our country have…?

28%

Not Changed

Improved

Worse

38% 30% 36% 29% 39%

22

Base: 788 Base: 298Base: 127

AMONG ETHNIC

MACEDONIANSAMONG ETHNIC

ALBANIANSAMONG

OTHER ETHNICITIES

+ 8%+ 24% + 21%

NOTE: 8% increase for people’s

lives have gotten worse among

ethnic Macedonians



ethnic Albanians



other ethnicities

IV. INSTITUTIONAL TRUST AND JOB APPROVAL

INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTTo what degree do you trust or not trust the following?


24

2

3

3

4

5

4

8

11

11

11

12

15

17

20

17

19

18

20

17

25

21

28

20

21

22

21

24

18

20

22

18

17

46

43

42

36

37

24

36

29

1

2

3

1

1

1

1

2

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Courts

The Public Prosecutors Office

State Commission for Prevention of Corruption

Political Parties

Parliament

Media

Technical Government

Presidency

I fully trust them I trust them I neither trust nor distrust them I have no trust I have no trust at all Do not know

30% 46%

25% 54%

24% 46%

22% 57%

19% 54%

15% 66%

14% 64%

13% 68%

Trust No trust

25

12%

16%

18%

19%

21%

25%

25%

35%

13%

14%

15%

19%

22%

24%

25%

30%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Courts



Political Parties

Parliament

Media


Presidency

June

Feb/March

% that said “I fully trust them” or “I trust them”

- 5%

TREND: INSTITUTIONAL TRUST To what degree do you trust or not trust the following?

70%

62%

57%

51%

54%

38%

48%

40%

68%

64%

66%

54%

57%

46%

54%

46%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Courts



Political Parties

Parliament

Media


PresidencyJune

Feb/March

26

% that said “I have no trust” or “I have no trust at all”

+ 6%

+ 6%

+ 8%

+ 7%

TREND: INSTITUTIONAL TRUST To what degree do you trust or not trust the following?

V. FAVORABILITY OF POLITICAL PARTIES AND LEADERS

50% 56%64% 67%

74% 78%70% 75% 69%

79%

41% 39%28% 29%

16% 15% 16% 17% 17% 11%

28

Feb / March June

SDSM

Favorable

Feb / March June

VMRO - DPMNE

Unfavorable

Feb / March June

DUI

June

ALLIANCE FOR

ALBANIANS AND

ALTERNATIVA

Feb / March June

BESA

TREND: FAVORABILITY OF POLITICAL PARTIESPlease tell me if you have a very favorable view, somewhat favorable view, somewhat unfavorable view or very unfavorable view of

each political party.

+ 7%+ 5% + 10%

+ 3%

+ 4%

49% 54%64% 68% 74% 80%

71% 77%69% 74% 70%

78%

44% 40%25% 28%

16% 15% 17% 17% 15% 15% 11% 11%

29

Favorable

Unfavorable

Zoran Zaev

Feb / March June

Hristijan Mickoski

Feb / March June

Ali Ahmeti

Feb / March June

Zijadin Sela

Feb / March June

Billal Kasami

Feb / March June

Afrim Gashi

Feb / March June

TREND: FAVORABILITY OF POLITICIANSPlease tell me if you have a very favorable view, somewhat favorable view, somewhat unfavorable view or very unfavorable view of

the following individuals.

+ 5%

+ 4%

+ 6% + 6% + 5% + 8%

+ 3%- 4%

VI. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS AND PARTY

PREFERENCES

LIKELIHOOD OF VOTINGHow likely are you to vote in the parliamentary elections if they are held in July 2020?

69% Likely to vote

23% Less likely or not voting


31

6

2

13

10

29

40

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Do not know

Refuses to answer

Definitely will not vote

Probably will not vote

Probably will vote

Definitely will vote

%

TREND: LIKELIHOOD OF VOTINGHow likely are you to vote in the parliamentary elections if they are held in April/July 2020?

32

76%

18%

69%

23%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Likely to vote Less likely or not voting

Feb / March

June

(Definitely + probably)

- 7%

+ 5%

NOTE: 9% decrease among ethnic

Macedonians and 15% decrease

among ethnic Albanians in likelihood

of voting. 5% increase among other

ethnic groups

32%

8%

40%

29%

10%

Feb/ March June

44%

Probably will

vote

Probably will

not vote

Definitely

will vote

Definitely

will not vote 10% 13%

CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESSHow confident are you that the parliamentary elections will be conducted free and fairly?

46% Confident

41% Not Confident


33

12

1

23

19

29

17

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Do not know

Refuses to answer

Not confident at all

A little confident

Somewhat confident

Very confident

%

NOTE: 91% of SDSM Coalition

and 27% of VMRO-DPMNE

voters are confident the

elections will be free and fair

34

TREND: CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESSHow confident are you that the parliamentary elections will be conducted free and fairly?

NOTE: Decrease in

confidence highlighted

among ethnic Albanians

19

33

21

1817

29

19

23

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Very confident Somewhat confident A little confident Not confident at all

Feb / March

June

%

+ 5%

CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION PROCESSIF NOT CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM: What are the reasons you are not confident elections will be free and fair?

35

AMONG THE 41% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION PROCESS

7%

3%

5%

2%

4%

5%

6%

12%

13%

15%

29%

0 10 20 30 40

Do not know

Refuses to answer

Other

No conditions, without clean voters list, monitoring mission

Low turnout

International influence

I do not trust the political parties

Corruption, bribery

Covid 19 pandemic

We never have fair elections, there are always irregularities

Pressures to vote, manipulations and forgery

Base: 504 respondents

46

41%

13

Little or not confident at all

HISTORY OF POLITICAL PRESSUREIn the last three years, were you, a member of your family, a relative or someone you personally know subjected to pressure such

as force, threats, vote-buying or other illegal means, to vote in a particular way?

18%

EXPOSED TO PRESSURE

(Know someone or

personally pressured)


36

7

5

3

16

72

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Do not know

Refuse to answer

I was personally subjected to pressure

I personally know people who weresubjected to pressure

I was neither subjected to a pressure norknow people who we

MULTIPLE ANSWERS

89 11

91 9

9.5

9.5

16.5

1.5

0.3

0.1

0.1

0.1

0.3

0.8

1.3

1.3

5.7

7.2

21.2

24.8

0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0

Do not know

Refuse to answer

Will not vote

Invalid ballot

Other

People's Party of Roma

Political Party Voice for Macedonia

MORO "Worker's Party"

Never North "Only Macedonia"

DPA

Levica

Integra Macedonian Conservative Party

Coalition on Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa

DUI

VMRO-DPMNE Coalition (Renewal)

SDSM and Besa Coalition (We can)

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONSIf the parliamentary elections were held today, which party would you vote for?

Would you say you are definitely voting for this party or you might change your mind?

Would definitely vote

Might change mind


37

% AMONG VOTERS OF THESE PARTIES

79 21

83 17

% AMONG VOTERS OF THESE PARTIES


Would you say you are definitely voting for this party or you might change your mind?

38

17%

5%

14%

1%

1%

2%

1%

9%

29%

20%

9%

10%

19%

3%

23%

26%

10%

8%

10%

16%

2%

2%

29.7%

29.3%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Do not know

Refuse to answer

Will not vote

Levica

DPA

Integra Macedonian Conservative Party

Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa

DUI

SDSM and Besa Coalition (We can)

VMRO DPMNE Coalition Renewal

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

NOTE: All other responses

have less than 1%


Base: 1,213 (all respondents)

Margin of Error: + 2.8 points at

95% confidence interval

39

Undecided (Don't Know)

Refuse to Answer

Will not vote

Coalition of Alliance for Albanians andAlternativa

DUI

VMRO-DPMNE

SDSM and BESA Coalition 24.8%

21.2%

16.5%

22.0% 27,6%

18.4% 24.0%

AMONG ALL

9.5%

9.0%

4.4% 10.0%7.2%

6.7% 12.3%

6.2% 11.8%

2.9% 8.5%Coalition of Alliance for

Albanians and Alternativa5.7%

13.7% 19/3%

Percentage from survey

Maximum with

Margin of Error

(+2.8)

Minimum with

margin of error

(-2.8)

5.6%

40

5.8

7.2

19.6

24.6

5.7

7.2

21.2

24.8

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Coalition of Alliance for Albanians andAlternativa

DUI

VMRO-DPMNE Coalition

SDSM and Besa Coalition

June

Feb / March

NOTE: In the Feb/ March

survey, 22,9% of the

citizens stated they would

vote for SDSM and 1,7% for

Movement BESA

TREND: PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONSIf the parliamentary elections were held today, which party would you vote for?

% AMONG ALL RESPONDENTS

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONSIF NOT VOTING IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: What are the reasons you might not vote in the parliamentary election?

41

4%

37%

1%

1%

8%

12%

15%

22%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Refuses to answer

Not interested

Something else

Physical issues

Have other commitments

Dissatisfaction, dissapointment by all parties

Boycotting

Fears about COVID-19

16.5

83.5

Will not vote Base: 200 respondents

AMONG THE 16% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VOTING IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONSIF NOT VOTING IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS: What is something that could be said or done that would make you

change your mind about voting in the elections?

42

4%

1%

58%

6%

1%

2%

2%

3%

3%

3%

5%

5%

9%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Do not know

Refuse to answer

Nothing

Other

Rule of law, justice for all

The political program of the party

Third option, new politicians

Personal benefit

To work for the good of the people

Fulfilled promises

Better economy and living standard

Employing a member of my family

Having the COVID 19 pandemic under control

16.5

83.5

Will not vote Base: 200 respondents

AMONG THE 16% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VOTING IN THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS

PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONSThe Ministry of Health, with Venko Filipche, and the Commission for Infectious Diseases will require all voters, organizers and

observers to wear protective equipment, use hand sanitizer and keep a two-meter distance from each other. Given this, how confident

are you that the July parliamentary election will be conducted with acceptable safety measures? Are you…?

43

5%

1%

24%

22%

32%

16%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Do not know

Refuses to answer

Not confident at all

A little confident

Somewhat confident

Very confident


48% Confident elections will be

conducted with acceptable health safety

46% Not Confident elections will be

conducted with acceptable health safety

NOTE: 86% of SDSM Coalition and

30% of VMRO-DPMNE voters are

confident the elections will be with

acceptable health

VII. GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS

THE PRESPA AGREEMENTWhich of the following is closest to your opinion today about the Prespa Agreement?


45

29%

25%

33%

6% 6%

41%

32%

21%

4% 3%3%

7%

61%

14% 15%

19%

28%

43%

4%6%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

I oppose the PrespaAgreement

I do not like theAgreement, but I believe

it was necessary

I support the PrespaAgreement

Refuse to answer Do not know

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

46

31%

26%

32%

5%6%

29%

25%

33%

6% 6%

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

I oppose the PrespaAgreement

I do not like the Agreement,but I believe it was

necessary

I support the PrespaAgreement

Refuse to answer Do not know

Feb / March

June

NOTE: There are no

statistically significant

changes from the Feb/

March survey

TREND: THE PRESPA AGREEMENTWhich of the following is closest to your opinion today about the Prespa Agreement?

RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH MACEDONIA AND BULGARIABulgaria and our country signed a friendship agreement in 2017. And Bulgaria did not veto the start of our accession talks with the

EU. However, Bulgaria has demanded we make changes regarding our country’s language and history before entering the EU.

Which of the following positions is closer to your view?


47

11%

3%

30%

28%

29%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Do not know

Refuse to answer

We should be be very offended and should not negotiateat all, even if it keeps us out of the EU

We should be very worried, we should try to reach anagreement

Bulgaria is trying to gain favor with their own people, weshould not worry about the demands

RELATIONS BETWEEN NORTH MACEDONIA AND BULGARIABulgaria and our country signed a friendship agreement in 2017. And, Bulgaria did not veto the start of our accession talks with the

EU. However, Bulgaria has demanded we make changes regarding our country’s language and history before entering the EU.

Which of the following positions is closer to your view?


48

29%28%

30%

27%

25%

39%

35%37%

6%

28%

24%

31%

0

10

20

30

40

50

Bulgaria is trying to gain favor with theirown people, but they cannot veto EU

accession. So, our country should notworry much about these demands

We should be very worried about theBulgarian demands because this might

create problems for joining the EU, so weshould try to reach an agreement

We should be very offended about theBulgarian demands and should not

negotiate at all, even if it keeps us out ofthe EU

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

VIII. EU AND NATO ACCESSION

NATO ACCESSION Have you personally seen, read, or heard anything about our country joining NATO? IF YES: Did this make you feel….


50

58% More Hopeful

12% Less Hopeful

4

4

8

15

7

5

34

24

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Do not know

Refuse to answer

No, unaware

No effect

Much less hopeful

Somewhat less hopeful

Somewhat more hopeful

Much more hopeful for the future of our country

%

NATO ACCESSION Have you personally seen, read, or heard anything about our country joining NATO? IF YES: Did this make you feel….


51

24%

34%

5%7%

15%

8%

20%

32%

6%

8%

19%

10%

29%

45%

2% 2%4%

6%

34%

25%

4%

9%

15%

6%

0

10

20

30

40

50

Much more hopefulfor the future of our

country

Somewhat morehopeful

Somewhat lesshopeful

Much less hopeful No effect No, unaware

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

NATO ACCESSION Our country joined NATO in March 2020. Do you…


52

74% Total Support to join NATO

48%

26%

7%10%

42%

29%

10%

14%

67%

17%

45%

26%

9%11%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Strongly support joining NATO Somewhat support joining NATO Somewhat oppose joining NATO Strongly oppose joining NATO

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

TREND: NATO ACCESSIONOur country will likely be joining NATO soon/Our country joined NATO in March 2020. Do you…

53

5%

9%

7%

26%

53%

8%

10%

7%

26%

48%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Refuse / DK

Strongly oppose joining the NATO

Somewhat oppose joining the NATO

Somewhat support joining the NATO

Strongly support joining the NATO

June

Feb / March

- 5%

EU ACCESSION Have you personally seen, read, or heard anything about the European Union approving the start of final negotiations for our country

to join the EU? IF YES: Did this make you feel….?


54

58% More Hopeful

11% Less Hopeful

4%

3%

11%

12%

6%

5%

35%

23%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Do not know

Refuse to answer

No effect

No, unaware

Much less hopeful

Somewhat less hopeful

Somewhat more hopeful

Much more hopeful for the future of our country

EU ACCESSION Have you personally seen, read, or heard anything about the European Union approving the start of final negotiations for our country

to join the EU? IF YES: Did this make you feel….?


55

23%

35%

5%6%

11% 12%

19%

33%

6%8%

15% 14%

28%

43%

3% 2% 3%

9%

35%

32%

4%

8%

10%9%

0

10

20

30

40

50

Much more hopeful forthe future of our

country

Somewhat morehopeful

Somewhat lesshopeful

Much less hopeful No effect No, unaware

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

TREND: EU ACCESSION Our country is moving toward negotiations to join the EU. Do you…


56

5%

8%

6%

25%

57%

6%

9%

6%

24%

55%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Refuse / DK

Strongly oppose joining the EU

Somewhat oppose joining the EU

Somewhat support joining the EU

Strongly support joining the EU

June

Feb / March

NOTE: There are no



March survey

EU ACCESSION Our country is moving toward negotiations to join the EU. Do you…


57

79% Total Support joining EU

55%

24%

6%

9%

49%

28%

7%

13%

70%

14%

0 0

55%

25%

10%7%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Strongly support joining theEU

Somewhat support joining theEU

Somewhat oppose joining theEU

Strongly oppose joining theEU

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

EU ACCESSION Whether or not you support joining the EU, which benefits do you think will SIGNIFICANTLY help our country?


58

3%

2%

12%

1%

19%

25%

26%

32%

49%

49%

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Do not know

Refuse to answer

No benefits

Other

Reduce the rate of emigration

Fight against corruption

Rule of law, judiciary reforms

Freedom of movement

Foreign investments, new employments

Better standard of living, increased wages

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

EXTERNAL SUPPORTAccording to you, which one of these countries or organizations helps our country’s national interests the most?


59

7

2

19

2

7

13

5

13

31

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Do not know

Refuses to answer

None of the above

China

Russia

Turkey

NATO

United States of America

European Union

%

EXTERNAL SUPPORT According to you, which one of these countries or organizations helps our country’s national interests the most?


60

20

3

12

7

11

2

39

10

0

17

0

14

11

41

22

2

12

10

14

4

26

0 10 20 30 40 50

None of the above

China

Turkey

Russia

United States of America

NATO

European Union

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

%

IX. KEY REFORMS

SATISFACTION RELATED TO KEY REFORMS

Rule of Law Mechanisms to

Reduce

Corruption

Freedom of Expression

62

Somewhat satisfied

Very satisfied

Very dissatisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

30%

satisfied25%

satisfied58%

satisfied

66%

dissatisfied71%

dissatisfied38%

dissatisfied

5%

43%25%

23%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Satisfied Dissatisfied

3%

45%

22%

26%


14% 17%

44%

21%



TREND: SATISFACTION RELATED TO KEY REFORMS

63

Dissatisfaction related to key reforms

Feb/ March June Change

Rule of Law 65% 66% +1%

Mechanisms to reduce corruption 70% 71% +1%

Freedom of expression 30% 38% +8%

PERCEIVED TRENDS IN KEY REFORMSCompared to three years ago, do you think the…

Rule of Law Mechanisms

to Reduce

Corruption

Freedom of Expression

(speech and the media)

64

20%

45%

32%

0

10

20

30

40

50

Gottenbetter

Notchanged

Gottenworse

17%

44%

34%

Gottenbetter

Notchanged

Gottenworse

35%

41%

19%

Gottenbetter

Notchanged

Gottenworse

TREND: SATISFACTION RELATED TO KEY REFORMS

65

Gotten better Not changed Gotten worse

Feb/March June Feb/ March June Feb/ March June

Rule of Law 20% 20% 48% 45% 27% 32%

Mechanisms to reduce corruption

18% 17% 48% 44% 30% 34%

Freedom of expression 39% 35% 42% 41% 12% 19%

X. MEDIA USAGE AND DISINFORMATION

MEDIA USAGEWhat is your primary source of political news?

Which media do you trust the most as a source for political news?


67

Primary source of political news (%) Most trusted source (%)

1

1

0

1

4

8

25

60

0 20 40 60 80

Do not know

Refuse to answer

Radio

Newspaper andmagazines

Friends and family

Web portals

Social media

Television

11

1

2

2

2

5

6

8

10

10

12

16

0 5 10 15 20

None

TV 21

MTV

www.a1on.mk

www.facebook.com

Different TV channels

TV Alfa

TV 24

TV Kanal 5

TV Telma

TV Alsat

TV Sitel

NOTE: Younger and more

educated citizens in higher %

use social media as primary

source for political news

CONCERN ABOUT DISINFORMATIONSome have suggested that disinformation related to COVID-19 and the election has been spreading in our country. Disinformation is

false information that is shared with an intent to cause harm. How concerned are you that disinformation might influence enough

voters to impact the results of the parliamentary elections? Are you…


68

8%

18%

18%

38%

18%

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45

Do not know

Not concerned at all

A little concerned

Somewhat concerned

Very concerned

NOTE: There are no



March survey

INCIDENTS AND LOCATION OF DISINFORMATIONPlease tell me if you have been exposed to disinformation in these sources of information?

90%

VOTERS EXPOSED TO

DISINFORMATION


69

%

3

2

5

1

4

8

10

15

19

28

53

68

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Do not know

Refuse to answer

None

E-mails

Billbords

Radio

Printed materials, flyers

Newspapers

People

Web sites

Social media

Television

NOTE: Political parties,

supporters of political

parties and media are

most likely to be creating

or spreading election

disinformation

XI. MIGRATION

71

MIGRATIONIs there any member of your household who has emigrated to live and/or work abroad?

Is there any member of your household who will likely emigrate to live and/or work abroad in the next year?


39

53

8

30

62

8

56

36

9

51

42

7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Someone in household has migrated in the past None No household emigration in the past, butsomeone will likely immigrate in next year

Total

Macedonian

Albanian

Other

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