North Macedonia’s presidential election began on Thursday, with seven candidates vying for mostly ceremonial posts in two rounds of voting that will end on May 8.
The official start of campaign season means candidates are allowed to give campaign speeches, hold rallies, and present their agendas.
The first round of presidential election voting is scheduled for April 24th, after which the two leading candidates will face off in the second round, which will be held in conjunction with the general election on May 8th.
Skier injured in bear attack in North Macedonia National Park, officials say
Current opinion polls show incumbent President Stevo Pendarovskiy, who is seeking a second five-year term with support from the ruling Social Democratic Party, and Gordana Syrzhanovska of the main opposition centre-right VMRO-DPMNE coalition.・Mr. Dabkova is in the lead. She also ran for president in the last election in 2019.
Supporters of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party light torches during a rally in support of presidential candidate Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in front of the government building in Skopje, North Macedonia, Thursday, April 4, 2024. North Macedonia’s presidential election began on Thursday. Seven candidates are vying for the post in two rounds of voting, with voting ending on May 8th. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)
Other candidates include law professor Biljana Vankovska, who is running from the left-wing party Levica, and two parliamentarians from the Albanian minority. One is the current Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani of the Albanian Democratic Union, which is a member of the ruling coalition, and Arben Tarabari of the Albanian Democratic Union. Opposition Albanian political party.
Maksim Dimitrievskiy, the mayor of the northern town of Kumanovo, and Stevko Jakimovskiy of the municipality of Karpos in the capital Skopje are also running.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
North Macedonia’s presidential election uses a two-round voting system, and candidates must receive at least 50% of the votes from a total of 1.8 million registered voters. In the second round, turnout must be at least 40% for the results to be valid.
