The Democratic Unity for Integration (BDI) deemed the runoffs – part of the 2021 Local Elections – as democratic and claimed their victory in 7 communes.

“Elections were held according to all democratic standards. It was an important process for the future of our communes. BDI won Struga, Kercova, Dollnenit, Cair, Bogovina, Tearca and Haracine,”- said BDI’s chair, Ali Ahmeti.

However, BDI lost in two important communes, Tetovo and Gostivar.

In Tetovo, the candidate for mayor, Teuta Arifi has now accepted her defeat.

Gostivar, which is one of the two most important communes for Albanians in North Macedonia is led by the candidate of Alliance for Albanians, Arben Taravari with 57.84% of votes, at a time when 38% of votes have been counted.

In the commune of Diber, where around 96% of ballots are counted, the candidate leading the race is Hekuran Duka, from the Alliance for Albanians with 49.29% of votes, against BDI’s Bekim Pocesta with 46.52%.

In the race for the commune of Skopje, so far, the opposition candidate Danella Arsovska is at an advantage with around 7 000 votes against LSDM’s candidate, Petre Shlegov.