The Democratic Alternative (, ''Demokratska Alternativa'') or DA is a
centrist political party in
North 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
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the northeast ...
instead of the
People's Republic of China. DA argued that such diplomatic move would help North Macedonia attract significant foreign investment from Taiwan - with even a sum of US$1 billion being mentioned by Tupurkovski. All of this proved to be only a dream, as Taiwanese money never came even after recognition from North Macedonia. By 2002 North 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 North Macedonia's economy and international relations, the embarrassing fiasco cost DA its political future.
In the
2002 election
The following elections occurred in the year 2002.
* 2002 Bahraini parliamentary election
* 2002 Comorian presidential election
* 2002 East Timorese presidential election
* 2002 Fijian municipal election
* 2002 Hong Kong Chief Executive election
* ...
, the party won only 1.43% of the popular vote and no seats.
References
Political parties established in 1998
Centrist parties in North Macedonia
{{NorthMacedonia-party-stub