Democratic Union for Integration

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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 political party in the Republic of Macedonia among ethnic Albanians, and the third largest political party in all of Macedonia. It was formed immediately after the war in the Republic of Macedonia in 2001 between the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Macedonian Security Forces.

DUI succeeded the NLA, after the war in Macedonia in 2001, when the latter was dismantled and disarmed. The NLA leader Ali Ahmeti became party president, while the para-militant wartime headquarters was transformed and legalized as the party governing body. However, after the war, many Albanian intellectuals from Macedonia, that were not members of the NLA, joined the party. The political party was formed in June 2002.

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.

At the last legislative elections, held on July 5, 2006, 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. As a result, the party organized protest and tried to rally international support in order to join the new government, but all was in vain. Currently DUI is refusing to take part in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, blocking its effective functioning as the legislative body in the country.

[edit] The symbol controversy

The party's flag and symbol show the first letter of every word of the party name in Albanian (BDI), topped by seven stars of which one is encircled in a white circled. It has been theorized that each star represents one part of Greater Albania:

• Republic of Albania
• Ulcinj municipality and other parts of south-eastern Montenegro
• Kosovo
• Preševo Valley in southern Serbia
• The western part of the Republic of Macedonia
• Chameria region in north-western Greece

The seventh encircled star is said to represent Greater Albania.

This theory has never been confirmed by any party officials, and all allegations for their claims for a Greater Albania have been officially denied. The stars are officially referring to the party's plea for Macedonia's future in the European Union

[edit] External links

• Democratic Union for Integration

v • d • e Political parties in the Republic of Macedonia Major parties Social Democratic Union of Macedonia - VMRO-Democratic Party of Macedonian National Unity - Democratic Party of Albanians - Democratic Union for Integration- Liberal Democratic Party - Liberal Party of Macedonia - New Social Democratic Party - Socialist Party of Macedonia Minor parties Albanian Democratic Union - Democratic Alternative - Democratic League of Bosniaks - Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia - Democratic Party of Turks - Democratic Renewal of Macedonia - Democratic Union - League for Democracy - National Democratic Party - Union of Tito's Left Forces - United Party of Romas in Macedonia - VMRO-People's Party - Workers Party Portal:Politics - List of political parties - Politics of the Republic of Macedonia

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