North Macedonia is holding the first round of its local elections, this Sunday. A total of 80 new commune leaders will be elected including the mayor of Skopje. 303 candidates are participating in the race for mayor and 567 for communal advisors.
In order for one of the candidates to be declared a winner, they have to receive at least 50% of the votes. If none of the candidates reach this score, voting continues on to a second round, for that particular commune, where the two candidates with the most votes go head-to-head. The second round would be held on October 31.
There are many independent candidates in these elections, as well as advisors. 1.8 million citizens are eligible voters.
The country’s electoral campaign, which wrapped up on Friday ended on a sour note as tensions and accusations intensified during the last hours approaching the final day.
The Social-Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (LSDM), led by PM Zoran Zaev, is currently leading 56 of the communes, under the slogan “The best for my commune”.
The opposition party VMRO-DPMNE of Hristijan Mickoskit, races under the slogan “Create a new future”. It currently leads 5 communes. The large Macedonian parties are racing through pre-electoral interethnic coalitions, with the Albanian parties. LSDM and BDI are facing VMRO-DPMNE, the Alliance for Albanians and the Alternative. 3 Turkish parties are also participating in these elections.
A biometric technology that identifies voters by scanning their fingerprints will be implemented for the first time during these elections. In addition, strict anti-COVID measures have been put in place.
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