Balkans: November 18, 1999

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A reported 40,000 demonstrators hit the streets throughout Macedonia, protesting Boris Trajkovski's election as Macedonia's president. They accused Trajkovski of extensive vote fraud in elections held November 13th. Trajkovski claims he received 53% of the vote. His runoff rival, Tito Petkovski, got 46%. Voter turnout was almost 70% of eligible voters. Trajkovksi was the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) candidate. This is best described as a "center-right" coalition. Petkovski belongs to the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM), the former Macedonia communist party.