The Macedonian opposition in North Macedonia declared absolute victory with its candidate for the president of the state in the first round of the presidential elections. VMRO DPMNE with Gordana Siljanovska garnered twice as many votes as the candidate of the ruling Macedonian party SDSM.
In the Albanian camp, the ruling Albanian party DUI celebrated its victory with its candidate Bujar Osmani, who received nearly 40 thousand more votes than the candidate of the Albanian opposition, Arben Taravari. Thus, after two weeks, the race will take place between Stevo Pendarovski from SDSM and Gordana Siljanovska from VMRO DPMNE.
From a total of 77.86% of the votes counted, these are the results:
Stevo Pendarovski 180.306 | 19.93%
Gordana Siljanovska 362.682 | 40.08%
Bujar Osmani 120.903 | 13.36%
Arben Taravari 83.356 | 9.21%
The two Albanian candidates received a combined 204,259 votes, or more than the second Macedonian candidate who went to the second round. If the votes of the Albanians had been cast together, there would be a chance that for the first time in North Macedonia an Albanian candidate would go to the second round.
This first round of elections is also a reflection on the support of political parties in the parliamentary elections which will be held in two weeks, together with the presidential ones.
VMRO DPMNE, which was the favorite in almost all the polls, came out as well in practice, but the Albanian opposition, even though it was favored by the polls, failed to get the support it expected. According to the accusations of the opposition, this is due to the fear and pressure of the government on the voters and the theft of votes, and they have warned of a stronger fight in the parliamentary elections.
“I want to emphasize that we are the winners of the votes of the Albanians. DUI has bought the votes of other communities and vulnerable social strata. VLEN is the only legitimate representative of Albanians in these elections and in the next Government. Even with these numbers, DUI did not produce Albanian MPs. She lost the legitimacy of the Albanians”, declared Bilal Kasami from the VLEN coalition.
Meanwhile, Bujar Osmani from the European Front said: “Once again, maybe I wasn’t heard. Deep victory with a difference of over 40 thousand votes… We have scored victories in almost every municipality starting from Jegunoc, Haračina, Vrapčisht, Studeniçan, Likovë, Bogovinë, Zhelina, Gazi Babë, Bërvenica, Dollnen, Pllasnicë, Resnjë, Struga, Zelenikovë, Çaška, Ohrid, and wait now, victory in Tetovo “.
Regardless of the results, if VMRO DPMNE wins the parliamentary elections while DUI wins in the Albanian camp, a new political crisis can be created since VMRO DPMNE has expressed its conviction that it will not form a coalition with DUI and sees only the Albanian opposition as a potential partner.
