Digital Transformation Builds a More Open Parliament in North Macedonia

North Macedonia, a Western Balkan nation of two million people, has made significant strides on its Euro-Atlantic path. A NATO member since 2020, the country is also pursuing EU accession, a process that demands strong democratic institutions, transparent governance and deeper citizen trust. Yet for years, the Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia (the Parliament) operated with outdated information systems and limited outreach, constraining its ability to serve as a truly open and representative legislature.

Recognizing the need for change, the Swiss Parliament Support Programme (PSP) implemented by NDI has partnered with the Parliament since 2018 to lead a bold digital transformation and embed a culture of openness. The PSP programme supported the Parliament to be more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of citizens.

Opening the Doors of Parliament

Key achievements of this partnership include the launch of the Open Data Portal in 2021, which gave citizens and journalists unprecedented access to parliamentary information, and the relaunch and broadcasting of the Parliament TV Channel in 2023-2024. Both initiatives expanded the Parliament’s reach to households and smartphones across the country. Together, these tools have opened parliament’s doors like never before, empowering citizens to see, question and participate in the decisions that shape their future.

New paperless workflows, modern Information, Communications, and Technology (ICT) systems, and environmentally responsible e-waste solutions have made the Parliament more efficient, transparent and sustainable – demonstrating that digital progress can also serve the values of stewardship and accountability.

Innovation for Transparency and Participation

Beyond these flagship initiatives, the PSP has supported a wide range of upgrades that strengthen the Parliament’s digital foundation. The parliamentary website now offers real-time legislative tracking, advanced search functions and multi-stream video coverage from the plenary hall and all committee rooms, allowing citizens to follow debates live on the Parliament’s website. Constituency office tools and a new register of organizations are enabling Members of Parliament (MPs) to engage more systematically with citizens and civil society. Significant ICT investments, from laptops and translation software to network equipment and conference systems, have created a more resilient and modern workplace for MPs and staff. Together, these advances ensure that digital transformation is not just about new tools, but about a comprehensive shift toward openness and accountability.

One striking example is the Digital Bridge Hackathon in October 2024. In the Parliament’s historic Crystal Hall, 50 young programmers worked side-by-side with parliamentary staff to turn open data into civic tech tools to improve transparency and access to information. 

“Our goal was to use open data to develop solutions for real societal challenges,” Secretary General of the Parliament, Ms Marina Dimovska, told participants.