Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

N. Macedonia’s ruling coalition triumphs local elections


(MENAFN) Preliminary results from North Macedonia’s local elections on Sunday show the ruling coalition leading in 54 of 81 municipalities, according to the State Election Commission.

With roughly 70% of votes counted, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE)-led bloc is ahead in most areas. The opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) alliance is leading in nine municipalities, while the VMRO-DPMNE coalition partner VLEN alliance leads in eight.

Other parties include the National Alliance for Integration (AKI), leading in five municipalities, and the Turkish Democratic Party (TDP), which secured one. Results in Centar Zupa were annulled due to turnout falling below one-third of registered voters.

In the capital, Skopje, VMRO-DPMNE leads with 41.23% of votes counted so far. In Cair municipality, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Izet Mexhiti declared victory over former Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani.

Voter turnout nationwide was 46.65%. Municipalities where no candidate achieved more than 50% of the vote will hold a runoff on November 2.

These elections mark the eighth local voting cycle since 1996. A total of 10,490 candidates, including 309 mayoral contenders, participated, with 1,451 observers accredited—644 from abroad and 807 local, including two from Türkiye’s Supreme Election Council.

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