The Democratic Union for Integration (Albanian: Bashkimi Demokratik për Integrim, BDI, Macedonian: Демократска унија за интеграција, ДУИ, Demokratska unija za integracija, DUI) is the largest Albanian political party in the Republic of Macedonia, and the third largest political party in all of Macedonia. It was formed immediately after the country's 2001 conflict between the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Macedonian Security Forces.
DUI succeeded the NLA, after the war in Macedonia in 2001, when the latter was dismantled and disarmed. The NLA leader Ali Ahmeti became party president, while the para-militant wartime headquarters was transformed and legalized as the party governing body. However, after the war, many Albanian intellectuals from Macedonia, that were not members of the NLA, joined the party. The political party was formed in June 2002.
At the legislative elections on 15 September 2002, the party won 11.9% of the popular vote (70% of the Albanian vote) and 16 of 120 seats.
From 2002 to 2006 it was part of the ruling coalition along with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Liberal Democratic Party.
In the 2006 legislative election, the party formed coalition with Party for Democratic Prosperity and Democratic League of Bosniaks. This coalition received 12,2% of the vote and 18 seats. Although DUI won the largest number of seats among ethnic Albanian parties (14), since their Macedonian governmental partners lost the election, it was not invited by the new Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski to participate in the new government. Its place was taken by the second largest Albanian political party, the Democratic Party of the Albanians.
However, after the 2008 legislative early election, the party returned to government in coalition with VMRO-DPMNE.
In the 2011 parliamentary election, DUI received 10.2% of the total vote, winning 15 seats. This is a loss of the 3 seats from the previous election.
Famous quotes containing the words democratic, union and/or integration:
“One reasonperhaps the chiefof the virility of the Roosevelts is [their] very democratic spirit. They have never felt that because they were born in a good position they could put their hands in their pockets and succeed. They have felt, rather, that being born in a good position, there is no excuse for them if they did not do their duty by the community.”
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (18821945)
“At all events, as she, Ulster, cannot have the status quo, nothing remains for her but complete union or the most extreme form of Home Rule; that is, separation from both England and Ireland.”
—George Bernard Shaw (18561950)
“Look back, to slavery, to suffrage, to integration and one thing is clear. Fashions in bigotry come and go. The right thing lasts.”
—Anna Quindlen (b. 1952)