Voters across North Macedonia are returning to the polls today to take part in the second round of local elections, which will determine mayors and council members in thirty-three municipalities. Polling stations opened their doors at 7:00 a.m. local time, allowing more than 1,013,000 registered citizens to cast their ballots until 7:00 p.m. this evening.
In municipalities where no candidate managed to surpass the 50 percent threshold in the previous round, the two top contenders are now facing each other in a decisive runoff. One of the most closely watched contests is in the capital, Skopje, where Orce Gjorgjievski of the VMRO-DPMNE party is competing against Amar Mecinovic of the Left (Levica) Party.
In several other municipalities—namely Gostivar, Vrapçişte, Mavrovo-Rostuşe, and Central Jupa—the initial turnout did not meet the required participation level, resulting in a postponement. Elections in these areas will be repeated at a later stage, ensuring fairness and full representation for local voters.
To safeguard voting transparency, 1,598 accredited observers are monitoring polling activities throughout the country, ensuring that all standards are respected during the process.
The first round, conducted on October 19, led to the election of 44 mayors across the nation. The ruling VMRO-DPMNE party secured victories in 32 municipalities, while its coalition ally, the VLEN Alliance, claimed 5 seats. Meanwhile, the National Integration Alliance (AKI) won 4 municipalities, and the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM)-led coalition captured 3.
This marks the eighth local election in the Republic’s democratic history, following previous elections held in 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021. Each election continues to play a critical role in shaping local governance and citizen participation in the country’s political landscape.
Yorum Yap