Macedonia Albanians Make Push for Federal State

Albanians in Macedonia during a protest | Photo: BIRN/Sinisa Jakov Marusic

Intellectuals and others who have contributed towards the rights of Albanians in Macedonia say it is time to find new ways for an ethnic community comprising around 30 per cent of the population to organize itself afresh within the Macedonian state.

At a time where the country is being swept by political crises and by institutional stalemate, these Albanian voices say the way they have been represented for the last 25 years in Macedonia has to change, as they still feel like second-class citizens, with little rights.

The creation of a federal state or a parliament with two chambers are seen as two possible ways to give the two main communities in Macedonia equal rights.

However, the majority of Albanians are also clear that before pioneering new forms of organization they first have to unite with each other.