Democratic Alternative (Republic of Macedonia)

Democratic Alternative

Leader	Vasil Tupurkovski
Founded	March 1998
Political position	Centrist
European affiliation	None
International affiliation	None
European Parliament group	None
Colours	Colours of the rainbow

The Democratic Alternative (Macedonian: Демократска алтернатива, ДА, Demokratska Alternativa) or DA is a centrist political party in the Republic of Macedonia. The Democratic Alternative was formed in March 1998 by Vasil Tupurkovski, charismatic member of the last Presidency of the former Yugoslavia.

Prior to the 1998 elections, DA entered into a coalition with VMRO-DPMNE with which it won the elections and formed a ruling government. The period in the government of this party, from the end of 1998 to the end of 2000, will be remembered mostly for the controversial decision to recognize the Republic of China instead of the People's Republic of China. DA argued that such diplomatic move would help Macedonia attract significant foreign investment from Taiwan - with even a sum of US$1 billion being mentioned by Tupurkovski. Unfortunately, all of this proved to be only a dream, as Taiwanese money never came even after recognition from Macedonia. By 2002 Macedonia formally reversed its decision on Taiwan and after much wrangling re-established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China.

In addition to causing major problems for Macedonia's economy and international relations, the embarrassing fiasco cost DA its political future.

At the last parliamentary elections on September 15, 2002, the party won only 1.4% of the popular vote and no seats.

Political parties in the Republic of Macedonia

VMRO-DPMNE alliance (58 seats)	VMRO–DPMNE Socialist Party of Macedonia Democratic Party of Turks Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia Union of Roma in Macedonia United Party for Emancipation Party of Justice Party of the Democratic Action of Macedonia Party of the Vlachs from Macedonia Bosniak Democratic Party Permanent Macedonian Radical Unification People's Movement for Macedonia VMRO-Democratic Party VMRO-United Fatherland's Macedonian Organisation for Radical Renewal Macedonian Alliance VMRO-Macedonia

SDSM alliance (37 seats)	SDSM New Social Democratic Party Liberal Democratic Party United for Macedonia Party for the Movement of the Turks in Macedonia Party for the Full Emancipation of the Roma of Macedonia Serbian Party in Macedonia Democratic Alliance of the Vlachs in Macedonia Sandžak List

Other parties	Democratic Union for Integration (17) Democratic Party of Albanians (7) Democratic Union (2) Democratic Renewal of Macedonia (2) GROM-LPM-SPSM-STLS-PFD (1) National Democratic Revival (1) Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia (1)

Without MPs	Albanian Democratic Union Democratic Alternative Democratic League of Bosniaks Lëvizja Besa Liberal Party of Macedonia National Democratic Party New Democracy Party for a European Future Party for Democratic Prosperity Party of United Democrats of Macedonia Social Democratic Party 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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