Bid to Abolish Albanian Autonomy Fails
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Macedonia’s national referendum on abolishing local autonomy for the country’s ethnic Albanian minority failed because turnout was only 26%, far below the 50% required.
A large majority of the ballots cast were in favor of revoking Albanian autonomy, election commission officials said.
The government this year redrew its municipal districts to make ethnic Albanians a dominant force in 16 of 84 districts and give them more control over schools, healthcare and jobs in those areas. The move was part of a Western-brokered peace deal signed by the state and Albanian rebels three years ago.
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