Democratic Union for Integration
Демократска унија за интеграција Bashkimi Demokratik për Integrim |
|
---|---|
Leader | Ali Ahmeti |
Founded | 2001 |
Ideology |
Social conservatism Albanian interests |
Political position | Centre-right |
European affiliation | None |
International affiliation | None |
Colours | Blue |
Macedonian Parliament |
10 / 120
|
Mayors |
14 / 81
|
Website | |
http://www.bdi.mk | |
The Democratic Union for Integration (Albanian: Bashkimi Demokratik për Integrim, BDI; Macedonian: Демократска унија за интеграција, ДУИ — Demokratska unija za integracija, DUI) is the largest Albanian political party in the Republic of Macedonia, and the third largest political party in all of Macedonia. It was formed immediately after the country's 2001 conflict between the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Macedonian Security Forces. The NLA leader Ali Ahmeti became party president.
At the legislative elections on 15 September 2002, the party won 11.9% of the popular vote (70% of the Albanian vote) and 16 of 120 seats.
From 2002 to 2006 it was part of the ruling coalition along with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Liberal Democratic Party.
In the 2006 legislative election, the party formed coalition with Party for Democratic Prosperity and Democratic League of Bosniaks. This coalition received 12,2% of the vote and 18 seats. Although DUI won the largest number of seats among ethnic Albanian parties (14), since their Macedonian governmental partners lost the election, it was not invited by the new Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to participate in the new government. Its place was taken by the second largest Albanian political party, the Democratic Party of the Albanians.
However, after the 2008 legislative early election, the party returned to government in coalition with VMRO-DPMNE.