This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please help improve this article by introducing citations to additional sources.Find sources: "Democratic Party of Albanians" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2017) This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (July 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Democratic Party of Albanians
Демократска Партија на Албанците
Partia Demokratike e Shqiptarëve
LeaderMenduh Thaçi
Founded4 June 1997
IdeologyAlbanian minority interests[1]
Conservatism[1]
Political positionCentre-right to right-wing[2]
International affiliationInternational Democrat Union (observer)[citation needed]
European Parliament groupEPP (associate)[citation needed]
ColoursRed, Black (Colours of the Albanian flag)
Macedonian Parliament
1 / 120
Mayors
1 / 81
Local councils
8 / 1,333
Skopje city council
0 / 45
Party flag
Website
www.gurra-pdsh.org

The Democratic Party of Albanians (Albanian: Partia Demokratike e Shqiptarëve; Macedonian: Демократска партија на Албанците, Demokratska Partija na Albancite) or DPA is a political party of ethnic Albanians in North Macedonia. The DPA is a merger of the Party for Democratic Prosperity of Albanians (PDPA) and the People's Democratic Party (NDP) which took place in June 1997. The former party was established in 1994 after some radical members of the Party for Democratic Prosperity, led by Menduh Thaçi and Arbën Xhaferi, left the PDP and the latter party was founded in August 1990 as a more radical opponent of the PDP.

DPA sign in Tetovo

The party's main symbol consists of the black double-headed eagle found on the Albanian flag, but with white eyes, on a red background, again, found on the Albanian flag. This background is encased in a golden outline, with a waving flag-like object of the same colour, but with bold, black letters saying, "PDSH." The party flag is the coat of arms of the party, but with a red background, found on the Albanian flag.

History

At the 2002 legislative elections, the party won 5.2% of the popular vote and 7 out of 120 seats. The party lost its status as a government party due to the defeat of the VMRO-DPMNE. At the 2006 parliamentary elections, the party increased its support, winning 7.5% of the vote and 11 seats. After the elections the DPA entered the government coalition led by the VMRO-DPMNE. DPA returned to opposition after the 2008 legislative early election.

In the 2011 parliamentary election, DPA received 5.9% of the popular vote, winning 8 seats. This is a loss of 3 seats from the previous election.[3]

Election results

Parliament

Categories