IRI North Macedonia Poll Finds Increased Support for EU Membership, Lack of Trust in Rule of Law, Divisions on Local and National Direction

Skopje, North Macedonia – A new poll conducted in North Macedonia by the International Republican Institute’s (IRI) Center for Insights in Survey Research (CISR) found increasing support for EU membership, a low level of trust in the rule of law, and divisions on local and national direction.  

When asked if they support integration with the European Union, 79% of adults responded “yes.” That represents an increase of six percentage-points from a poll that was conducted last October.  

“The increase of support for EU membership is a sign that Western institutions offer hope for a successful future,” said Paul McCarthy, Director for Europe at IRI. “Macedonians see integration with a democratic bloc like the EU as a key to peace and prosperity.” 

The poll also found that most people do not have confidence in the rule of law. Only 31% agreed that the law equally applies to all people in North Macedonia, an all-time low. Sixty-five percent disagreed.  

“Our survey shows that fewer people have confidence in the equal application of the law,” said McCarthy. “This will need to be addressed by leaders in Skopje if they want to instill confidence in the government and the country’s political institutions.” 

Additionally, citizens in North Macedonia are divided on how they see the direction of their local community compared to the national direction. Twenty-eight percent of Macedonians feel their municipality is moving in the right direction, while only 14% feel the same way about the country as a whole.

Methodology    

The survey was conducted on behalf of the Center for Insights in Survey Research by Brima market research firm (member of  KANTAR Group). Data was collected between April 8 through May 4, 2023, using a stratified multistage probability sampling method through in-person, in-home interviews. A nationally representative sample size of 1,204 respondents aged 18 and over was surveyed. The data was weighted for age, gender, education, region, urban/rural residence, and ethnicity. The margin of error for the full sample does not exceed ± 2.8 points at a 95% confidence level. The response rate was 74%.    

This poll was conducted with support from the National Endowment for Democracy.