The State Audit Office, with the support of the OSCE Mission in Skopje and the Swiss Electoral Support Programme in North Macedonia, implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), organized a conference on the topic of “Financial Accountability in Elections”.
The aim of the conference was to present key findings from audit reports related to the financing of the presidential and parliamentary elections conducted in 2024, as well as to open a discussion on improving institutional preparedness and transparency in the financing of election campaigns, especially in the run-up to the local elections in 2025.
Within the first session, moderated by Ioana Cosma, Director of IFES in the country, the Chief State Auditor, Maksim Acevski, and the Assistant to the Chief State Auditor, Katerina Chaloska-Aleksovska, presented the findings from the audits of the financial reports of political parties and election campaigns in 2024.
“The prepared individual and aggregate final audit reports further indicate the need to undertake activities to overcome the systemic weaknesses in the Electoral Code. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to greater accountability, transparency and trust in the electoral process, and this forum is a platform for the exchange of experiences, ideas and initiatives for future improvements,” said Maksim Acevski, Chief State Auditor.
The second session focused on institutional activities and preparedness for the upcoming local elections, discussing the protection of electoral integrity, oversight of campaign financing, and addressing challenges in the media campaign. Representatives from the State Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, the State Election Commission, and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services delivered their speeches.
Through active discussion, participants agreed that stronger oversight mechanisms, better coordination between institutions, and clear rules are needed to ensure transparent election campaigns.
The conference was attended by representatives from key national institutions, the international community, and organizations supporting electoral reform. The organizers emphasized that the conclusions of the event will contribute to more accountable and transparent election processes, in the interest of citizens and the democratic development of the country.
